1.
She awakes slowly to the row
of bottles on the bedside table
Her tongue is heavy and
sticks to her lips
Each leg is petrified wood, each knee a knot
She rolls from back to belly, her spine pops
Her stomach is a balloon pressing into the mattress
She counts breaths
Soon she will touch the lamp
Bright, brighter, brightest
And come to all fours
wait, turn, wait
Calcified bone feet touch the floor
Testing for cracks
2.
Each cap requires three motions
Push with palm
twist with wrist
Pull with fingers
Each label requires checking
Name (yes, it is hers)
Dose (too much/ too little/ never enough)
Date (forever expiring)
Do not drink alcohol
Do not drink grapefruit juice
Do not miss a dose
Do not take two doses
3.
May cause sleepiness
May cause headaches
May cause dry mouth
May cause dizziness
May cause constipation
May cause diarrhoea
May cause heart attacks
May cause depression
May cause loss of bone density
May cause limb paralysis
May cause macular degeneration
May cause righteous indignation
May cause weakness
May cause auditory hallucinations
May cause internal bleeding
May cause loss of breath.