How to Seduce Space and Time

The Painting, “Washing Dishes”, is by Deborah Dewitt (1956)

Audio
While the world blurs into
a haze of crazy scrambling
where beasts of no nation
snatch soil and oil and air;
I dare you to abandon the stairmaster of plodding questions
by investing in an anti fatigue mat 
of bright phrases
like "stay strong", 
"hold on", 
"thank you", 
and "wow"
near the tap of your lips 
to rinse your fragile thought cups.
I double dare you to 
microwave a couple, cheerful earworms

for at least one minute or so on a low setting, and chill a little,

to fill your mind palace 
with a sizzling, refreshing fragrance.