They changed my meds

Gave me something to stop my eyes from watering

“Allergies,” they said.

Allergic to what?

Life? Overwhelmed with schoolwork,

papers to write, packing to move

an apartment full of new furnishings

given as a graduation gift;

This morning I was angry

Not wanting to leave my warm bed

and complaining and yelling at the alarm-clock and

I burned the banana bread while I was soaking in the tub.

My eyes didn’t start watering until

I saw her on the corner waiting for a bus

carrying a baby

and 5 bags of groceries

were being hauled by a very small boy.

It’s 39 degrees outside;

Wind stealing orange leaves that covered

the sidewalk in front of her.

I gave them a ride home

And my last $10

because I remembered a past life;

leaving an eleven-year-old

to baby-sit three toddlers under age four

so I could walk and bring home food.