Day 157 - When You Go Away

when you go away

for the weekend

I stop eating regular meals

and survive on water biscuits

with melted cheese or

chips with sliced hot dogs

or chilli form a can,

or toast with grilled cheese

and white bread,

followed by black coffee and beer,

and chocolate so cheap

it's not allowed to be labelled chocolate.

I do my best to starve the body

of it’s natural oils

till it winds down

and stops working

when you’re not here

my intestines become a graveyard

a rotten cement mixer,

where nothing moves.

the house lies still;

the flowers choke on the sill,

the curtains stay closed,

the cat won't move from his chair.

yes, when you’re not here,

even for a day,

life comes to a screeching halt.