Urgent Care By Todd Cirillo

    For Jake St. John

Businesses and schools

are closing early today

due to an early winter apocalypse. 

I am terribly ill

fighting whatever it is

the best I can. 

I’m happy for work to end early

as I drive home

but sick at the thought

of another dark night 

with canned 

chicken noodle soup 

alone. 

I drive past places shutting down,

lights being turned off

and the roads emptying out

as clouds roll in 

and temperatures drop.  

I see no improvement

in health or prospects.

I simply want to get better.

Up ahead, there’s a red sign 

lit up in the darkness

with parked cars underneath

that reads, “Lost Love Lounge.”

Perhaps it’s the fever,

the heartbreak or poor luck 

but I swear it says

Urgent Care

and I’ll take that

over soup

any day. 

Todd Cirillo was born of bastard lineage. He has many books and misdemeanors. Books include: Sucker’s Paradise, Burning the Evidence, ROXY, Three for the Road, Kisses from a Straight Razor, and his latest, Disposable Darlings. Misdemeanors will remain unmentioned. His poems have appeared in numerous national and international literary journals, magazines and on cocktail napkins everywhere. He is editor and co-founder of Six Ft. Swells Press. Todd lives in New Orleans, Louisiana where he seeks out shiny moments and strange wisdom while looking pretty.