Sick Day - Brian Dewan

I will not rise this morning or boss myself around

Nor will I attend my daily chores

Underneath the covers sipping ginger ale

All the livelong day I’ll stay indoors

Today will be a day of rest, of medicine and broth

Of sitting out the world of busy-do

Today will be a sick day, quarantined at home

With my hot water bottle and the flu

I’ll occupy my mind with a stack of various books

And miscellaneous mildewed magazines

Between some fits of coughing I’ll ruminate and pine

And lose myself in restless fever dreams

Propped up on a pillow, a single piece of mail

A greeting card enjoining «get well soon»

Today will be a day of rest, of thermometers and pills

And idle convalescence in my room

Jack Frost on my window, cascading flurries swirl

In the twilight’s melancholy hue

Beside me on the nightstand, a vaporizer sings

An aqueous lullaby the whole night through

They say that faith can cure you and time heals many woes

I’ll sleep and be reborn when I awake

Resume my happy duties and bear the easy yoke

Tomorrow I’ll feel better than today