My mother is sick and I can’t fix her

I worked hard at gardening today

It was too hot for my long chinos 

but I wanted to avoid scratches and insect bites on my legs

I transplanted the echinacea and cleaned up weeds and dead flowers 

I wanted to quit but the coneflowers had already been uprooted 

So I pushed on and gave them a new home on the parkway. 

Eventually I found my flow

I picked a few things, hatch peppers, bell peppers, tomatoes and beans

I’m not young.  This wasn’t easy.  

My medication makes me dizzy when I stand

Rising from the weeding I’d stagger and reel

Take a breath, close my eyes and continue 

I ate scrambled eggs with bell peppers 

Tomorrow I’ll call my mother’s doctor