Broken flowers & ragged breaths
she spins the earth on a piece of string
legs sailing high on the swings

her toy dog, Bruno watches
closely by a worn copy
of a linen-bound Ulysses

her latest boyfriend told her
she was ' Loopy'
& now she doubts the

sweet voices in her head
talking in sacrilege
stirring up dread

'we all have our demons'
she had replied
' But not all of us give in'

he had said
& left her standing
by the gate

to sleep
& nevermore