June Sick Day

The sickness comes with glossy fingers,
conjures a cloud that lurks and lingers,
until, one by one, the family drops
into steaming baths and pillow-tops.
The daily clock then slows and seizes,
replaced by sniffles, coughs, and sneezes,
until, at last, the infiltration
reaches the peak of saturation.
Then slowly, like a morning dawning,
those recovered (though some still yawning)
begin again their common duty
attuned anew to common beauty.