it’s a bit freaky in minneapolis
this fall and early winter
i’ve been riding my bike so much more
cuz it’s been so unseasonably warm
no snow, no temperatures as cold as they could be
but honestly, it’s difficult for me
riding my bike wearing a pandemic mask
my green cotton cloth bandana
from the 2019 minnesota state fair
which shows
in white logos
a local brewery “on a stick”
cuz my hot exhalations into mid 40F air
and the cold bandana tied tight
up against my face
means my nose runs everywhere
when i’m riding and breathing heavy
just yesterday i had to stop and pray
after riding for an hour
that in my messenger bag there was something
some kind of thing
some kind of napkin, some bit of paper
i could blow my nose into
cuz i had a waterfall going on behind my mask
so i stopped against the curb
out front of the movie theater on st. anthony main
un-clicked the buckle, swung it down from shoulder
and opened up my bag
then untied my wet bandana
two streams dripping off my lips
sure enough i was lucky
there were three dirty napkins
from some take out place
crumpled down at the bottom of my bag
so i blew out my nose and laughed to myself
snot management now in effect
gobs and gobs so heavy and warm filling up the napkin
but i could breathe again
and looking around i see no trash can
so fully sopped napkin goes right back into my bag
and onward i continued up to northeast
suddenly shaking my head when the absurdity hits me
i’ve suffered so little, been so lucky
have yet to lose anyone or anything
so why am i letting
this tiny inconvenience of the pandemic get to me
riding my bike on one more warm november day
heat flow 