Accord for swallowing is first,
then comes a halting before
things turn dark. Sleeping is
necessary, watered down by
vibrant colours and a long
exhale. The ointment smoothed
on her skin protects her from
the nurse with the fiery breath.
She wanted to confuse the staff
and brings in a pebble from the
garden as suggested, placing it
into the pocket of the man in
the next room. It’s the best way to
get sugar in her coffee and salt
on her bread so that soon she is
practising placing stones in the
corridor, laying them carefully
together until paths of gravel
lace in and out of the building,
circling like a spiral.