Joanna Gilman Hyde

The Tomato-coloured Couch 7:00pm

As I open My iridescent purple journal

printed with jewels

I have come to this place

where I am happy, fulfilled, & satisfied

despite the contradictory phraseology

pronounced severely over ten years ago

by My Psychiatrist (one of fourteen)

when I was insisting

I was The Second Coming of Christ:

“Joanna, You have so much going for You —

You’re intelligent, talented, beautiful

& This Idea is Wrecking Your Life.”

Then, less than two weeks later

from My Doctor Who became My Second Husband:

“–Joanna, You’re intelligent, talented, beautiful

You have so much going for You

I don’t see why you cling to This Idea –”

but cling to It I did

for twenty years now

& look where It has gotten Me