I rattle
The pills, in the bottle.
Percussion simplified.
Make music on the rim of my glass.
Pour them out hold them in my hand.
Examine them as Pearl's,
Shucked directly from an oyster.
Things of immense beauty.
I am a collector.

I set myself a glass
Full to the brim.
Watch how the liquid swirls
Thicker than water
Darker than water
Not water.
I imagine the burn,
Sterilize my throat
Cleanse my wickedness
Burnt at the stake
From the inside out.

I imagine the way it feels,
To become the mussel,
Ingest the pearl,
Cleanse
Repeat
To count them 1 to 100
Transforming each time.
Into memory.
The fire within
Turn me to ashes.
Vapors.

I close them tightly
The oyster and the bottle
Set them back on the shelf
Admire them for another day.
No Pearl's
No fire
Only hope.
To be done.