The Hawk Dining Room 8:27am
The Sky in The East
is fringed low with Gold
The Sun is somewhere
behind The Grey
The Ocean is Black
marred by waves
My Day is gathered
with Me She’ll stay
The Hawk Corner Room 1:10pm
My Bed is laid
with The Quilt of Purple Ripples
under an array
of framed memorabilia
in Eliza’s Room
while She is away
messing about in boats
The Tomato-coloured Couch 5:20pm
I knew a daughter once
with long thick wavy hair
dark
Who couldn’t speak
except to yell
a guttural cry
in any public place —
Her Mother named Her Winter
& told Me a doctor said
at the snowy October birth
“Either You’re going to die
or Your Baby will”
January 5, 2015 The Tomato-coloured Couch 8:07pm
I was an awkward Bride
in My pink
size 13
50’s chiffon
on the arm of
a fallen Doctor
Who has to work
because THAT
is His IDENTITY
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
The Tomato-coloured Couch 4:33pm
I think back
to That Night of Black Magic
when I was dressed in beaded
dark grey lace
enthroned by the mink
of a dead mother-in-law
— silver heels decked
My Feet
rhinestones spiralled around My Neck
The Place was packed
when I tottered in
to drink only water
next I looked
The Place was cleared
but for My Party Of Six
My Truest Friends
out for fried fish & burgers
& cranberry puddng
until unforecasted snow
compelled Us to go
leaving no shoe
behind
The Hawk Queen Bed 9:39am
I go to bed
with the sexiest man I know
to dream My Dreams
& wake up
to coffee in the morning
& the latest report
on Gold
The Hawk En-suit Bath 1:11pm
I Am Venus Rising
Out Of Her Bath
Of Bubble
Having To Towel Off
(With Her Grey Towel Of Course)
Any Trace
Of Her
Submergence
The Hawk Queen Bed 9:30pm
I’ve swept God under
The Rug
& tidied up My House
I’ve gotten out
the extra chairs
& rolled My Carpet up
I’ve set My Records
in a stack
ready for The Guests
We’re going to have A Party
in My Place
& My House will be
all the neater
with excessive laughter
& dancing faces
where No One questions
Heaven
& has no fear
of Hell
Joanna Gilman Hyde 