You know
I’ve been insouciant as anything
Waiting out this virus
Until I coughed
Like I did last night
Just as I was falling asleep
A dry cough
And I sat up in bed with my heart skittering
The way it does when someone sneaks up behind
And touches your shoulder
Or you are suddenly startled
Out of a dream.
It seems that I only think I am
Calm in the face of chaos
But all it takes is one cough
To set me right.
