she sits and sways -
her head clouded by noise
dust and hunger swim
through her mind

she sits and feels
as though she might sink
become part of the
dusky coverlet

she sits -- she cries
her body failing and
flaking, throbbing
in its retribution

she sits and dreams
behind plastic eyes: numb
and dumb as her
crumbling corpse

she sits, she sees
the hours thrum by in
time with her lazy
aching heart

she sits and she is
surrounded by real or
not real shadows
and living ghosts

she sits and tries
to dredge up a smile
but brain and body
lie disconnected

she sits and dreads
impending doom and
fragile movements
on shaking legs

she sits -- she sighs
feels the pull and drag,
pant of wheezing
dried-out lungs

she rises and sways
not strong enough now
her self destruction has
taken its toll.

*© Tara India.