Death in Cairo

Mourning screams
morning
braiding hair
washing dishes
small annoyances
and in the background

Mourning screams
will the nagging worries
and distant catastrophes disappear
or will I, in healing

Mourning screams
continue
as it hits noon
lunch in the microwave
caffeine addiction pulling at my sleeve

This crazy city
is just enough
to put you on the edge
but not enough to push you over

Take a step back
revel in my ability
to feel anything at all