Thursday

These days the invisible

is gaining prominence.   

It makes us nervous. 

We feel we might jostle it 

without knowing.

We’re so palpable and thick.

So obvious. 

We feel we must

cut off our hair,

apologize for colors,

beg forgiveness for skin.

Outside, birds fill the spaces 

we have hushed.

The invisible keeps us quiet.

We hear its voice 

coming from inside our houses.

It has a sound like teeth.

We wear masks so it won’t get out.