Tick tick tick
Pour the pills from the bottle.
Hold twenty
And a tangible pause.
Take two.
Past the teeth,
Over the gums,
Look out bloodstream,
Here it comes:
The numbness,
The pain.
The lights go off upstairs
And it's back to business.

Tires screech
Children screech
My thoughts screech,
So I reach inside
Turn off the volume.
Laugh a little
At the zoo monkeys
Mouths agape
Making no sound.
Then head down,
Shuffle on.

One at dawn
Another at dusk.
Tick tick tick
Pour the pills
Empty bottle
Hold twenty
Take two
While God laughs
And I drag myself back
To sleep.