ERICA DAWSON
      OCD 
      The learned men call it all a true 
        Emergency, the summer's long, 
        Tireless drought. And I walk through 
        The public park breaking the thong 
        Of my flip flop, limping in strong 
        Heat while the proletariat 
        Of honey-suckle limps along. 
        Quod me nutrit me destruit. 
      When Death strolls past, what will they do, 
        The pussy-willows in the throng 
        Of goldenrod turned brown, but cue 
        The organ, its sepulchral song 
        In desiccating sun, belong 
        To soil which can again be fit? 
        The bell will toll—one loud ding-dong. 
        Quod me nutrit me destruit.  
      Deep in the trees, two schoolboys chew 
        Clover and toss their homemade bong 
        Inside a bag when I step through 
        The bush. The smell of smoke hangs strong. 
        They stay with me, wading the long 
        Path of the littered rivulet. 
        Without a clue, they nod along. 
        Quod me nutrit me destruit.  
      I always know where I belong. 
        Lock all the gates. I'm desperate 
        To hear birds sing my constant song  
        Quod me nutrit me destruit.    
       
      
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