To Helena, once again

the bellows are blowing with force
I am still surprised to consider ferocious
for how long I have weathered them here.
They say it has rushed along
the coast, down from the Alaskan cold—
this chilled edge we have to summer.
Nearly, I went over the edge, I
am ashamed to admit, taking offense
at the nip of wind, as it mussed my hair.
Surprising, this chip on my shoulder,
you know. That is, you'd understand.

Tandem

"Never learned to ride a bike without holding on," I mention casually over breakfast, one hand around the edge of the table, the other cupping my chin. "Vertigo: it affects lives." She's not looking at me, so I don't carry on about the infections I had in childhood that led to numerous surgeries on my right tympanic membrane.

She surprises me: "Have you been tested for Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo or Ménière's disease?" She has these quizzical hazel eyes. Now I recall saying something about ear infections before, when we compared histories of minor surgery. That was my last good excuse.