The Doldrums

Whoever said that the doldrums are 
a part of the sea, spent too much 
time looking at maps 

because the truth is 
the doldrums are everywhere 

in every city street, 
in every farmer's field, 
in every car on the highway 
(northbound or southbound)

in every family photo album, 
in every childhood memory, 
in every birthday party, 
(and christmas, thanksgiving 
or bar mitzvah)

in every classroom discussion, 
in every business meeting, 
in every mass at church 
(temple, shrine or synagogue) 

in every song 
in every novel 
in every line of poetry 
(self-referential or 
not) 

in every this 
in every that 
in every other thing 

the doldrums are everywhere