Bright conqueror

I squint my eyes against the sun

invading the kitchen like a bright conqueror

blindingly bright on this March morning

injecting serotonin into my brain

I throw my arms out to the conquering sun in the first rush after the injection

and I get another hit

I’m a fly bumbling to life on the windowsill

in the winter sun

stupidly blinking in the kitchen

on my route of escape from the computer room

I must have worn a path into the linoleum, going back and forth

and I have an ulcer in my mouth to prove it

from all those olives wantonly sucked

in order to get a sense of accomplishment from something, anything

talk about oral fixation

at least I’m not drinking at the moment

but that could all be changed in an instant

mwaha

oh, I’ll have another hit of serotonin instead

Janet Bellinger

c 2006