Bitter Poison

Every night I stand before myself

Stare into her eyes and watch as they fade

Replaced by my father's fury

Replaced by my mother's sadness

We close our eyes and it fades to black

open

A simple wooden cup sits before us

filled to the brim in a dark liquid

Holding a superficial light

No pause, no hesitation

An ages old ritual, a familiar count of beats

It fades and fades

open

I stand before myself

Replaced by flimsy smiles and kind, bland eyes

To bed and close my eyes

Counting the ticks to start it all again