Fever

FEVER

 

There is something in the corner of my room.      

                                                                                                                                                                               I squint to see it in the darkness.

A little boy is sitting on the floor,

Playing with a deck of cards.

I sit up and stare at him.

He sees me and runs right into the wall.

 

On my blinds, little people are having a tea party.

They strut up and down with cups and saucers.

I swear I hear them singing.

 

The wallpaper on the ceiling starts to fall.

Burying me in a papery grave.

I call for my mother.

 

She comes to check on me,

In a stripy nightgown, she’s had for years.

She cradles me as I cry,

Whilst each stripe peels off onto my rug.

 

When she leaves,

My dead grandmother walks my room.

‘Am I skinny? Am I skinny?’

She begs me to answer her,

As she stares right through me.

 

I feel every organ inside my body.

I am hyperaware.

Something is crawling on my face.

Clawing at my arms.

 

On my knees,

I ask God

When will this end?