CULTIVATED

Over the weekend I allowed my life to fall apart.
I ate too much
showered once
and wore the same clothes,
only deviating to change my bra
and thong
[to prevent infection, you understand].

My body cried for routine          a dip in the pool
chlorine groping to take root
as it had always done
when I swam laps with my mother on summer mornings.

The only reason I smelled ok
was because I’d washed my hair
and the generic clean
of soap that doesn’t try to be or remind you of anything
had sprouted amongst the dandruff seeds.