a litany of woes:
the breadwinner was laid off after 14 years
the cars are dying
the dog is lame

please breathe on me

my degree seems worthless in the marketplace
pathological grieving has distanced me
perpetual vigilance defines me

I search in the dust for
recessive gills that will allow me
to continue my experiment
in breathing under the water
that has become my lens

I release you