Pergatory

THINGS TO DO IN THE BELLY OF THE WHALE

by Dan Albergotti

Measure the walls. Count the ribs. Notch the long days.
Look up for blue sky through the spout. Make small fires
with the broken hulls of fishing boats. Practice smoke signals.

Call old friends, and listen for echoes of distant voices.
Organize your calendar. Dream of the beach. Look each way
for the dim glow of light. Work on your reports. Review
each of your life’s ten million choices. Endure moments
of self-loathing. Find the evidence of those before you.

Destroy it. Try to be very quiet, and listen for the sound
of gears and moving water. Listen for the sound of your heart.

Be thankful that you are here, swallowed with all hope,
where you can rest and wait. Be nostalgic. Think of all
the things you did and could have done. Remember
treading water in the center of the still night sea, your toes
pointing again and again down, down into the black depths.

Covid-19 in NYC March 97th

Greetings from the coronavirus "hot zone". The brightest red part of New York City... that is where I live. That is where I have to go out and use the laundry mat and pick up rice at the store... It would be difficult to not go out. So far my health holds up although I am racked with anxiety. You have to remember that the thing that makes immune systems weak is stress... so you know, don't stress? You could be unknowingly carrying a virus that will kill or hospitalize many of your neighbors... but don't stress. Ok? Ok. Sure. 

Every phone conversation seems to be about the same.

 "Hey, how are you holding up?" "What did you do today?" "What are you doing tomorrow?"

--Oh you know; racked with anxiety, stir crazy, trying to keep my mind straight

--I washed my hands, I disinfected all the doorknobs, I read a little, I watched some movie...

--tomorrow?  I'll be washing my hands, disinfecting door knobs, trying to not go crazy. 

Time has no meaning. Walks help. Very much looking forward to going to concerts, theatre shows, group picnics... WORK!! But for now, I'll be here at home disinfecting things. 

Stay Safe. Wash your Hands. 

X------O