Who Remembers the Swine Flu?

I’ve been under the weather for a few days,
lethargic, queasy, & aching all over
It feels like it hasn’t stopped raining for 2 weeks

At the first sign of true sunlight,
I put the dog on her leash, and headed out the door
the warmth lasted for about a block
but that block was crisp & green & wet under foot
and we darted between the puddles
squaring the block before heading in under gray sky

The neighbors are a big Hispanic family,
I got no idea how many people live there,
but they’ve always been pleasant,
kids playing in the street,
a couple of dogs in the backyard.

I couldn’t tell you if it was somebody’s son, friend or cousin
but there was a kid standing in the driveway
fresh haircut, in his Graduation Robes,
posing in front of the house for a couple of photographs
they’d missed the best chance they had
for a window of good light by no more than 5 minutes
dark skies, the glistening pavement,
welcome to the working week, kid.