Joanna Gilman Hyde

The Tomato-coloured Couch 8:27pm

I remember the preparations

for Bed

in The Psychiatric Ward

usually completed

because there was nothing

else to do

but change out of Your Tee

& Jeans

& take Your Pyjamas

off the back

of Your Single Chair

or out of Your Top Drawer

if You happened to be

tidy that day

brushing Your Teeth

because You knew

You had to

brushing Your Hair

not because You felt like it

but because You

had to look at Your Self

in the mirror

not for the last time