Gesundheit
After every sneeze all she could say was
gesundheit, pointing to the box
of aloe vera tissues, her solution
for containing contagion. When she discovered
gesundheit means to your health she began
to use it like a toast. That confused all her guests,
in the absence of a sneeze; and the word lost meaning.
Became only a guttural sound,
a cow lowing in a meadow.
A bless you even an atheist could love.
And then, after her diagnosis,
when her husband began whispering gesundheit
at bedtime instead of his usual sweet dreams,
she heard another, personal translation:
please don’t die.
About the Author: Cheryl Snell’s books include poetry and fiction. Recent writing has appeared in A-minor Magazine, Maudlin House, Flash Boulevard, Midway Journal, Boudin, 2025 Best Small Fictions, 2025 and 2026 Best Microfiction, Dribble Drabble Review, Mad Swirl and Eclectica anthologies.
Image Credit: Digitally altered version of “September Flowers” by Michael Pardo Creative Commons License CC0
As It Ought To Be 