Delusions

Today, a lady said:

I stay with phones and bibles in my room, don’t sleep.

Never leave ’cause the windows let ’em in;

I see demons jumpin’ offa people,

and that’s why my gas bill’s high.

Even if I get rid of ’em, the shadows come

every every ever every where—that’s

how I got HIV.

And I said: do you have a bus pass?

Then a phone call:

I want to throw this here wienie dog.

I know, I know I shouldn’t have cut its tail

off, but it matches my eyes …

Make an appointment. How’s Friday?

A child eats my peppermints,

while her father cries. Another man

drinks a gallon of whiskey and shows

up right on time for anger management.

Here’s a tissue and a hotline.

Thank you, and come again. Please

drive-thru. See you next week.

At home. I hear their voices.