Forecast Today (for Fred Broski)

 

Footsteps from the woman in the

apartment upstairs. The man next

door is off to work at the grocery

store. The dog barks at sudden

noises in the early morning.

Coffee is hot and the first cigarette

of the day is lit. Everything seems

normal. Plenty of sun and high 70s

forecast today.

The Russians occupy the Crimea

Region of Ukraine. The cease fire

between Hamas and Israel in Gaza

holds despite the clash in Jerusalem.

Japan's lower house slams Myanmar

Coup, calls for return to democracy.

A second cup of coffee and another

cigarette.

The man next door needn’t worry

about the traffic jam at rush hour

headed East on I-435. He rides his

bike to work every day sunshine or

rain. The dog barks at 7:30 when he

leaves his apartment and again at 5:45

when he returns.

In the meantime 15-cigarettes have

gone up in smoke.

Very few are paying attention, but

somewhere underlying out there

are those who claim that in this

day and age algorithms come into

play.

For others it’s just another day.

And although it’s negligible,

even Fred, the retired weather-

man will tell you, on any given

day, there’s always a 20% chance

of rain.

               -30-

Chris Hanch 6-8-2021