I see her
black hair, whitening
like chalk on my hands
eyes gouged out
leaving sockets
round as a pill-bug

I hear her whisper
raucous like pipes
too small to hold steam
she wants me to live
like a hermit

She's followed for years
a faithful housekeeper
she needs to be fired

My sleep has been fried
rattling clocks on walls
too loud for me to sleep

Her exorcism is coming
like a warm milk bottle
she can't stay here
it's time to go