the manifestation of my malady
is in the excuses i laugh off,
for it is all too common
among our cohort.
( p e r h a p s w e a r e a l l i l l . )
is it business
is it laziness
is it illness—
i never know.
for i have been inseparable
from my affliction at least
as long as i have been
myself.
and i have been by myself,
save for
the ladybugs and plastic bags and clothing
(i may as well not own),
surrounded by the evidence that
i am either crippled—
or a disgrace.