I Will Have To Watch This

germs germs everywhere
coughing, spewing
everyone
droplets of disease falling on my skin
i wince and flinch and
resist running for cover
(it is so, so hard)
never have i been so aware of the germs, germs everywhere
and watching the journey of each germ from the initial contamination to
the multiple infectants
i try to remain normal and focus on the job at hand
even as my insides curdle and i imagine bathing in
bleach at home

the snot he keeps on rolling, hacking, and rolling
the bits that fly out from him as he leans over
controlling my unlearned hand 
i am so completely grossed out
i hold my breath 
i will have to watch this to make sure it does not become a problem
both the germs
and my sudden fear of them


three license plates
i started memorizing license plates as i drove home from work
just to see if i could
it quickly became addicting
i will keep doing this
the first one was H59 5830 black chevy malibu max
the second was DC4 R5R purple Chevrolet car
the third was 5MC 079 red truck


mom asked, "why don't you ever finish the last two bits of drinks and things?"
"that's where the poison is," i said


at the grocery store i pointed at some funny vegetable and laughed
i touched it and said, "this feels like an old, shriveled penis."
mom laughed and we began our journey to the next aisle
when she looked back i had returned to the penis vegetable
to touch it with my other hand