I don’t just want a sick day
I want to be sick
I want to be bound to my bed
in feverish confusion
and painful disorientation
I want to have cold sweat
I want to be in convulsions
I want to ache endlessly
Perhaps even regurgitate
whatever little food
I could force myself to swallow
no one will come near me
in fear of being infected
and at last
I will be left alone
and I will not have to think
and I can sweat out the sickness
and freeze out the pain
and my temperature will be above a hundred
at last
cold in heat
and freezing in the desert
or perhaps I’ll get drunk instead