When I Close My Eyes (The Smell)

Trouble breathing,
Inhale, mouth open
I taste it

Morning breath and blood,
Sweat, tears, water
I smell it, to my right

The tears, the water,
I smell the chlorine faintly,
The drugs smell stronger,

Your long body stretched before me,
A blanket covers you, pure white.
I watch the blood rise in your nose

Rise and fall, it rolls away


drip



drip




drip



water, blood, chlorine, hospital, cool, cold, sweat, tears, antithetic

that’s the scent

the aroma that surrounded your dying body

you watching your body die

that’s the scent

of you watching me,


the smell of your ghost.