The Medicine Cabinet

The swollen eyes are from lack of sleep, The shaking hands she hides. She can't remember important dates But oh, how she does try. The hair that once was washed and curled Has turned a dirty grey. And if a friend came by for tea That would truly ruin her day. The headaches are more frequent now, Her attention span has gone. She used to speak of news events And what the government did wrong. It's called her medicine cabinet And she checks it every day In the corner of her basement Where her hidden bottles lay. Sometimes she feels so very ill She decides to make that call, But the line is always busy, Into bed she trips and falls. A new day finally does arrive, Her routine is now a habit, She walks slowly to the basement room And sneaks a bottle from the cabinet. Lynn Hanna Barany