To the Apothecary

To the Apothecary

I’m looking for some Hope

no, no, not…

you can’t expect me to buy

      Pure Hope

                not after last time

                         and the time before

I’m looking for a particular blend

      preferably from the East

do you have any Alloyed Hope?

      Hope Tempered?

                Hope with Strings Attached

                         or Caveats?

      any of those would do

I want to buy, I want to

      I won’t walk out with Cynicism

                or Blind Optimism

      what kind of remedy is that

originally published in irisi magazine, April 2020