Garden of the Gods

“The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven.”

― John Milton, Paradise Lost

I. Open/Closed

Eden, Olympus and
gilded capitol building closed
but the cherry-blossomed city
& green-carpeted mansion:
    Open

Flesh & flowers in the mirror
qHS warm scent of skin & soap
qAM aroma of salted pig

Q hr at the airport
planes line up
families crammed in queue

    Whatever happened to covid?  

The city never sleeps
Ms. Pacman won’t stop
    Würk

America’s open again
just not to certain countries.

Too much snow and ice close a road
a heart for decades

A pandemic closes countries
though sometimes opening windows
    to another
Alternatively:
double doors to
intensive
    care

(not everyone makes it through)  


II. Day/Night

Every day a new adventure
plains, snow, caves, treacherous heights

The sun scorches in
Garden of the Gods
the unknown and
    forbidden
guarded by burning phalluses

Paradise lost, moments stolen
visiting hours 10-6
with full PPE

Spontaneous breathing and awakening trials
in the day

    Awake, arise or be forever fallen

 

    What has sleep to do with night?
No rest for the weary

We sedate you
then we wake you
like every hour

Würk
stat dialysis
drips to keep stuff circulating
breathing synchronous with machines
MRIs and CTs don’t stop at night
nor do codes

Knowledge of Good bought dear by 

    knowing ill

Going up or going
down?
Boosted bed so high
went straight to not quite heaven
but next floor up

or two