Draw me a clock
by Beth Hanson, MS2
鈥溾�rickets in my ears鈥︹��
鈥淵our arm. Straight.
Feet on the ground. Flat. Please.鈥�
Yellow smelling room. Stale. Color hanging in the air
like bony fingers strangling my throat.
Harshly squeezing my carotids.
鈥溾�hey bark. At night鈥︹��
鈥淧lease. Your arm. Keep still.鈥�
鈥溾�he birds. I hear them bark鈥︹��
Paper gown crinkling, crackling,
like soap suds popping
in the kitchen drain.
鈥溾�oppity hoppity hop.
Birdieee. Birdieeeeee鈥︹��
Chilled breath of the tile floor,
clawing its way
through my bones.
鈥溾�octor, do I have the feathers?鈥︹��
鈥�110 over 80. Write that down.鈥�
鈥溾�eathers. I have the feathers.
They chirp鈥�鈥�
Blank stare. Empty space in the room.
Time tunnel
perhaps.
鈥溾赌丑丑丑丑丑丑丑丑丑
it鈥檚 the dementia鈥︹��
鈥淒raw me a clock with hands at 11:00.鈥�
Tight air. Rubber banded.
Saran wrap stretched
across my face.
鈥淧lease the clock. Draw the clock.鈥�
鈥溾�octor do they chirp?
Something in my ear鈥︹��
Silence and a cricket
lying softly
in the corner.