recycled air
breathe in breathe out
from ten in the morn
to twelve in the night
cake biscuits puffs
water coffee water
sustenance – breathe in air
words on a screen
images flit across the screen
icons on the screen
no life ahead of the dream
drink in pale bold words
font-arial
size-11
books articles reports tables
blue black red
the colour of the ink does not matter anymore
calls messages images
desperate interruptions that light up a dendrite
sending waves of “thank god i can look away”
enabling limp fingers to reply scroll tap linger
the lament
sighs moans growls bickers
as it waits for a chance to leave
leave the room
the room filled with recycled air
cold wafts from the air conditioning
warm wafts from the door without a lock
neutral wafts that people carry with them
as they swish past
murmuring gossiping simply talking
about their golden-hued life
a fading blip on the radar
as they grow
grow older each second
closer to death
D E A T H
dope ecstasy acid tobacco heroin
what’s your poison?
recycled air
fills my lungs with melancholy
time wasted staring at an 18.5” widescreen Hi-def display
staring at sticky notes
staring at red ink
staring at the sleeping screen
recycled air
that carries everyone’s’ worry
everyone’s curiousity
everyone’s angst
eyes droop
hands curl in defiance
body doubles over
the night is still young m’lady
arise and be well
arise and weep not
the night is still young m’lady
Poem by Merrin Alice Abraham.
Illustration by Sanjana Acharya.
Article 19 