Time
by roshini sk

i. 

past midnight, my hunger comes unbidden - 
intrinsic, it does its own bidding 
i cull the beating of my heart but 
it bulges - 
it bleeds

ii. 

past one, my hunger calcifies itself,
immortalised, seraphs do their own bidding
in the living room, my grandmother watches over, 
mum used to say she could have made it,
a bloodline full of could-haves
it bleeds-
it blisters 

iii. 

past three, my hunger retires, 
inspired, i do my own bidding
with catharsis, i create
with imposter syndrome, i cower
it blisters-
it berates

iv.

past six, my hunger lays recumbent
induced, time bids for no man
much less a woman who
feels hindered by the past
the future will plague me into submission
it berates-
it benumbs