Early-stage menopausal psychosis, Nyhavn hotel room, 5 October 2019
There’s a red eye / in the corner of the ceiling / yesterday it was a smoke detector / today
it’s pretending to look elsewhere / seeking out fire
The stilettos by the bed listen / my breaths carefully measured / they try to decide if I’m
asleep or not / they’re not sure / they listen some more
Logically / the cushions on the sofa are in a tight row / because the cleaner left them like
that / but maybe / here’s the thing / maybe / they’re whispering among themselves
I lie still / the fear that sweats out through the cracks in sleep / trying to
shock my body into action
You are waiting for me to speak / I open my eyes and mouth / hope that the words will
come out
Currently living in Hertfordshire, UK, Anna Milan’s poems have appeared in publications such as Butcher’s Dog, Under the Radar, Eye Flash Poetry, Black Bough Poetry and Ink Sweat & Tears.
@annamilanwrites