sedation

lips were a blur and eyes that look
like they expect a response
but don't wait for a millisecond

eye brows are horizontal crescents
whipping around like hungry leeches
sucking nothing but my attention

I'm not just silent through this ritual
I hear nothing and see from an almost
metaphysical perspective
where I observe the functions
of a premenstrual warrior

I don't mean to dismiss her
with shrugs and vacous nods
but I can't help admiring
the performance in offending
and rassling neutral air

(I keep looking for the feed bag
that should be hanging from her ears)

she sees my lack of interest, relents
and transforms to a monotone

her face is settling like rudderless dust
searching for escape in a blaze
of impacifiable sunlight
then her every feature sinks with a sigh

she stands on her heels that revive
the dead-wood floor musically

the door thunders into the frame
the noise has an echoing tail of finality
and somehow emancipation
for her

for me
she always told me I slept like a baby
only smiling in my sleep

I'm thinking about this for the first time
as the corners of my lips curl up