Blue Light
By Camille Osborne
The heavy wet sponge
of my tongue
licks the sugar
off my scars
Tiny worms live
in the lining of my skin
I hear them panting, chattering
I line the litter tray with their lies
Eking Out a Living
By Sheila O'Brien
I’ve got it together.
I’ve got one bedroom .
One roof below the sky.
A coffee maker, cigarettes,
that life gleam in my eye:
forks and spoons and knives.
I listen to the new music on Saturday night.
I am falling apart.
I am one bedroom.
One bed at night to sleep in,
seldom ever accompanied.
Two blue sheets to the wind:
cases and covers and ties.
I work to keep myself from going dry.
I’ve got it all right here.
Gin and tonic and beer.
Dope to keep me flying high.
A vague memory of you and I.
Casual sex on Monday nights.
Legs and arms and eyes.
Closed.
