cortisol spike

my cortisol was going crazy
last year.

my blood pressure was out the roof.
I trembled,
and would cry at a soap commercial.

fear, stress anger, jealousy, etc.
had me
seeing imaginary grizzly bears
at every turn
of the mile.

so I ate. I drank.
sugar, meat, cupcakes.

rocky road ice cream.

I found the bottom of every potato
chip bag I bought.

suddenly I had a roll of belly
fat hanging over
my belt.

I found new lovers and misbehaved.
I was a madman out of control.

I knew the source of this spike
in cortisol,
but I didn't quite know how
to stop it, until she left,

my deranged significant other.

suddenly things
were back to normal
and my weight dropped, my
skin

cleared and once more I had
a happy spring in
my step.