A covid virus entered my body,
 	Temple desecration.  Burning me with a fever
       	And now, together we both burn, -we tethered two.
              	Burning up and burning out in our oblivion. -In our cohabitation, -in our covid cell.
 
The fever came on the morning of the meeting
 	With the ancient.  Sweet aged-Piscean.  Fighting her own dementia.
       	    Innocent lamb.  I simply couldn’t do it, -so, I asked forgiveness and begged off.
                      Dragging my buried bones in for further examination of the heated, dry-cough.
 
Antigen betrayal.  Send me back and put me down,
  	Drop the portcullis.   My doctor calls and reads my name
        	      Off the insurance company’s, corporate rolls of the daily calls.
                         She is a dolorous-terpsichorean caller, and I dance to her tarantella.
 
By her order, I am made to maze my way within the Wall Street website.
      Schedule my confirmations and ensure no blame or oversites
        	Can be leveled in the multi-billion-dollar company’s direction.
                   Behind my mobile glass I wait my turn, I wait with my infection.

Behind her mask and through the glass cracked,
  	“You have an appointment?”, is the opening shot asked.
        	     “My antigens tested positive,” I warn the intern from a distance.
                       She excuses herself in search of someone with more experience.
 
The phone calls are made.  Sad, hard expressions played.
     Thoughts and prayers. The world is concerned only for its own survival rate.
       	The Earth did turn straight through the deaths of:  Diane, Kristi, and even Ron
                	The Earth has its own life to live.  Micro grown and Macro gone.
 
Roil and Broil, Awake In The Night Upon the Sick-Stick of Sweated Sheet
Turn and Toss, The Buzzing Sounds Of the Return Of Swarming of the Fever Bees,
Buzzing. Burning. Buzzing.. Tearing At Hair Shirt Fiber! Tearing At My Proselytization.
-Who With? -Where With? -When With? -Confess!! -Atmospheric River Darkens The Horizon.
And The Tempest Will Cleanse You, -Emulsify You, -Baptism By Fire
And Then, Drown The Rat! -Breathe, Damn You! -Breathe!! Clutch The Spires
Of Your Existence. Dig Back To The Scene. To The Worth Of Your Flesh.
Worthy Expression. Seek Concessive Balance With This Infection You Did Catch….

Squeezed eyelids begin to flutter, --bathed in clear golden rays,
  	The morning beams kiss me, -tease me, -amber tongue on the nape of the neck.
               Dissipation.  -It’s Gone!  Or at least, -held in stalemate….
                       In separate corners the virus and I catch our breaths, eyeing one another
                            -Awaiting the decision call.  Each convinced the bout has been fixed.
 
And though I should win this match…  -The bruises and lacerations will linger
   	In the days to come.

     -November, 2021