Repair

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Repair


Washing machine this week, Sunday last 

the nook behind the dishwasher  

his self-sized cathedral. Week before that


he told his therapist the fear, 

the one rolled tight in him 

like a snapped Achilles, and in return  

the shrink didn’t try to fix it but said 

it was good to be said, how he had seen 

his own a week ago to say 

some things that bore saying,

that that was how this thing works. 


He doesn’t know how this thing

works, the mechanics too tight to see

and if he could still well-

beyond his expertise, but he knows 

he’ll be here again next week

in another tight spot, sweating   

in the work of repairing 

what repairs the dirty dishes, 

the growing mound of soiled socks.


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