By Sheri Reda

(a letter to my friends and neighbors)

I apologize, in advance,

for being the one

who dropped from my sleeve

the viral speck

that lodged in the throat

of the stud at the gym

who showered and shopped

and brought his own bag

that was touched by clerk

with the purple hair

that brushed the shelf

that was cleared of goods

in the Costco

            where you prepared to survive

the Apocalypse.

                        Love, Sheri Reda