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(It’s 5:30 AM. The poet’s been up for two and a half hours, listening to mocking little noises around ~ and even taps upon ~ her van, letting her know that lying down again will be a useless undertaking.

Being a semi invalid who, without layers of clothing, takes a chill in a closed room, she is already, this early in the season, wearing eleven pieces of it to ward off the chill. Midwinter, that total will go as high as twenty.

Being a semi invalid, she’s also in terrible pain. Sleep is supposed, to some degree, to restore her ability to function, of course. But she spends every night watching her chronic conditions deteriorate instead. 

So does her stalker. Delightedly!

No one else, of course, is watching.

Unless the poet dares to get out of her van.

Then they’re at her elbow without delay.

What kind of poetry should she publish?

What kind of poetry does she have the heart left to publish?

She won’t even make an attempt to read this one aloud.)

*****

Only for a Moment

Just for one little moment there
I let myself get caught
The way in this vindictive age
I guess nobody ought

In the illusion that my heartfelt
Work, and care, and thought
Had a tiny modicum of
Security bought

Just one mirage, another one
Risen my horizon of —
Just for a moment I imagined
I received respect and love

*****

This poet is physically disabled. Public housing being insufficient to her medical and creative needs, she is presently living, in order to continue working, in her minivan, publishing all of her works using one thumb on the touch screen of her smartphone, surviving at an income of a fraction of her nation’s poverty level. She would treasure any donation you might care to offer ~ http://www.UgiftABLE.com ● #72D-31S.

Please be aware that it takes several days for the poet to be notified of contributions. International patrons please contact the poet via email or post a comment for the necessary numbers.

*****