Sugar

One bite then the mad-
ness begins. Binge-stuffing my
face. Swallowing whole.

Dizziness diagnosis

He feared brain blood clots
but it’s labyrinthitis.
He’ll live after all.

Stocking shelves

She spent the day in
aisle 6, cold flu remedies,
wellness boxed, bottled.

Dizzy

Why his head spins he
doesn’t know. Vertigo’s made
the world hell’s fun house.

Hope

Dark fear crackling at
the edges, the heart beats on,
pulsing core of light.

Friendship during hard times

Like an egg in a
carton I fall but don’t crack,
cushioned by your strength.

Hoarders on A&E

What we hold onto
owns us drowns us sedates us
slow death by shopping.

Rejection

Hives. Itching. As if
her body can’t coexist
with her sense of self.

Surviving St. Patrick’s Day

for Cathy

Too sick for green beer
she stayed home, watched bad films of
leprechaun horror.

Inside the doctor’s exam room

Either it’s a loud
HVAC system or
white noise to mask fear.