Allison Thung

Chronically

Ill sense of accomplishment as water

washes down the last pill in a blister pack.

Advent calendar to recovery; sandwich punch

card exchanged for freedom from symptoms.

To keep the illusion, consume but do not

process new prescription and refill.

To keep the delusion, savour the layers of

irony in slicing finger open on aluminium that

holds in their designated cavities the little

pieces of poison that keep you well and alive.

Allison Thung is a poet and project manager from Singapore. Her poetry has been published or is forthcoming in Chestnut Review, ANMLY, Maudlin House, Lumiere Review, Emerge Literary Journal, and elsewhere. Find her on Twitter @poetrybyallison or at www.allisonthung.com.