the only way
I'll get out of bed today
is if I clad myself in pink,
pretend
the sky is blue
sometimes I have to remember
that waiting for the bus
in the rain
with a fused spine
and a cane
is a cosmic experience
people see
a young woman
so arthritic
it makes them think
of their own death
maybe it should
It's no coincidence
the number for access
to government resources
is called a sin number
I need the
meds in the bottle
for the arthritis
so I can open the bottle
to get the meds
for the arthritis
Doc told me I was sad
I said I'm alive
as I burn my palm
over candles
because it is a pain
I am in charge of
Bára Hladíková is a writer and artist based in Tiohtiá:ke, Montréal. Her work has been published or is forthcoming in Cosmonauts Avenue, Royal Rose, Seafoam Mag, Charcuterie, and elsewhere. She is the founder of Theta Wave and her book Behind the Curtain was recently published by Publication Studio. She tweets @baroslavka