Distance

Bawling.

The artwork mailed from a friend.

The thank you card.

I got to see my daughter today

from a safe distance.

She calls me on the phone nearly every other day

which is 2000% more than usual

and yet

knowing I can’t see her

but from a distance

like a leper

me infecting her infecting me

I don’t know which direction the sickness goes

except that we’re all caught in its grasp.

Caught, like the lump in my throat.

I cry in the shower where the tears are quickly washed away

Where no one will see

unstrong me

I dry off and dress

and there on the table

the card greets me.

The artwork from a friend.

I’m bawlng again.