In retrograde

Some planet is supposed to be
in retrograde this month – Venus,
or Mercury, or any of the others.
Whatever it is, supposedly is causing
all kinds of mechanical failures:
cars unable to start in the morning,
the HVAC unit breaking down just as
temperatures plummet. Lovers
breaking up, parents divorcing,
children turning against siblings
who never before this time had any
differences. Whatever it is, it’s
in full swing. Best to sit it out,
let it work off all its bad
juju. Don’t feed it any more
precious energy. Hide your tears
of frustration. Dig in your heels
and wait for the tide to turn.