The Earth’s Spin Reversed

by Claire Scott

Now rotating counter-counter clockwise
and everything is surreal
the sun rising in the west
the world wobbling in time
like a child’s roly-poly toy
bone marrow biopsy, blood tests
PET Scans, more blood tests
none of this is the real me
climbing mountains, lifting weights,
head stands and tree poses
the future coming at me with needles
of poison, killing good cells and bad cells
indiscriminate as a machine gun
indifferent as a distant god
my body wasting, scales announcing
another pound lost
fatigue settles in like my mother-in-law
arriving with five suitcases
and three long-haired cats
the haze of brain fog, forgotten
doctor’s appointments
mouth sores, sick stomach
ridiculous wigs
rivaling Bozo or Lady Gaga
praying each day to a gone ago god
for the earth to spin
counterclockwise again