my name is delilah
and my saliva tastes
like rain—in my dreams
i hear violins and oboes
and everything is so acute
i can even hear the opening
of rose petals as spring arrives,
i can feel the silk against my cheek.

my name is delilah
and i live in wonderland
and i have tea with my
beautiful mad hatter and
i paint the roses bright red
as the red queen.

my name is delilah
and my eyes are
closed. my body
feels numb. they’ve
put a needle in my arm
to keep me quiet, to
silence my frantic screams.

(for you see, i am terribly
afraid of that horrid cheshire cat)