- Chell Navarro
VERNAL EQUINOX

All seems the same
at present
Awake at 4:21 a.m. the usual time
although—3 days ripe
I need to shower
the dogs wait patiently
routine for them the cat
meows in the sink
I woke 3 days ago with a nasty cough
through thin walls
I’m sure neighbors are concerned
I have it
they see me on the cusp
of elderly
No fever I check every hour
record it
I have read the warning
signs
I take the dogs out in the morning dark
Dense fog the smell of water
hits me first
air damp and briny
like a lakeshore
NY Times: patients report they lost
their sense of smell
an early sign of it
I’m relieved and happy
All the birds are singing
chattering
swooping and appearing
from behind
the curtain of fog
this time of day so new
it hasn’t broken me
yet
all seems the same
with the exception of a creeping
fear a sudden wide awake feeling
this is real
NY Times reports:
Prince Charles, 71, heir to the British Throne
has it
the dogs anticipate I’ll leave soon
for work
But again—today—I won’t
I pour another cup of coffee