The Bath

Burnout terrifies me. (There is no one else.)

I sink into a just-hot-enough fragrant sea and lower

Spent arms, breathing and freeing my mind.

Underwater I am lighter. The weight of

A warm, watery blanket presses, holds, sooths.

Sensations distract me. Eloquently. Forcing No worries.

Why did I wait ‘til burnout knocked? My door left ajar.

Robotic patterns have hypnotized me.

Successful execution of duties deceived me.

I learn to use a curse word against the paralysis

Threatening the sanity required for

This madness. Fuck burnout. I’m taking a bath.