Urushiol

It starts outside you, a brush of an arm
or accidental glance indifferent even

and then there is no helping for it
scratching the itch they say spreads it

makes it worse but it really travels
only where it’s made original contact

occasionally it’s delayed getting under your
skin waiting on and responding to your own

chemistry and the building up
of a defensive response is what inflames

things so where did it first
touch you  it will stay there a while like all

things it will run its course it doesn’t
matter what you do once you’ve got it