Sunday, I stopped at Burger King

for whoppers, not the chocolate ones,
(though come to think of it,
I might purchase those at Walgreen’s today.)
I was wearing black, my go-to choice,
the line was long and people were cranky,
even though it was Father’s Day,
I guess all the happy families
were at the Outback Steakhouse.

My head was filled with visions
of things I cannot ignore.
Visions of daughters living in the street
sons of anarchy living in anger,
even my Chihuahua is depressed.
I don’t want to feel the anguish
I am plowing through,
but there it is,
a mountain of other people’s
sorrows overshadowing mine.

I want a magic potion,
the equivalent of three wishes
A psalm, a pomegranate,
a labyrinth of eternity.
When I wear yellow, I sparkle
like sunshine poking its head
through rain clouds
luminous in the midst
of the daily gloom.

All the dark moods that hover
in the atmosphere disappear,
The neurons in my brain
light up with happiness,
when I wear my sister’s favorite color,
I exhibit her joie de vivre,
the antidote to despair.