my grandmother digs into her nail bed
she scratches as she smiles
nerves on the verge
mind on the edge
I didn’t see a thing
and I’ve seen her whole
the shards sticking in her flesh
the tired strong bones
eggs cracked, shells pillows, dust furniture
polluted wood carving into hair ears alongside
voices mildew shower curtain window frame out of here
socks legs children’s sounds and kitchen knives
hiding places sticking out, lampshade fire exhaustion brotherlove
tent grass cherry tree climbing upwards outwards house so small
curtain call silence tiptoes mouth softness whispers come here
napping antagonising couch meat cigarettes skin ashtray open wide
music poetry too complex words not understood record player scratching
cats burning bonfire garden disillusioned bona fide abandoned higher off the balcony chokehold
ways in ways around darkness in the middle of it all wallpaper throatcut
eyelashes blackened skin moisturised drunk too drunk to show up balustrade
can’t see me can’t smell me cars around bathroom lights fights sex put me to sleep
bring me to bed cracking bones hair smoke fading face lipstick stains underwear song
Croque-Melpomene 