Side Effects

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slap away a tiny vampire
dengue carrier
irritating buzzer
refugee from the drought

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roll over

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scratch the place where
my blood was so recently
siphoned away

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roll onto my back

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stare through the plastered ceiling
into the space beyond
where I have allowed my drenched, fanciful
utopias to roam free

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roll onto my stomach

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release the loaded sigh
that has been blocking
my passage

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get up to pee

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miss the bowl completely
curse the relentless darkness
and brain fog

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fall back into the treacherous bed
adjust the cool sheets
hug a pillow between lonesome
arms and legs

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wordlessly
lament the heat
of the drought

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click the bedside lamp
allow the glare of full
wakefulness to
intrude on the deceitful, comforting dark

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read Terry Pratchett

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lose interest
return to the darkness
and its lies

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lie on my side
lie on my back
lie on my other side
lie on my stomach

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pace for ten
crushingly dry
minutes

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repeat
every night
like clockwork

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spend every day
in longing for
darkness and the wet

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