water.

the pipes chatter
like a telephone ringing
ringing, ringing
though no one's home

now hot
now cold
uncomfortably lukewarm
today the skies are grey

the pages turn
turn then tear
like a cracker cracking
on your fingers

you ran out of milk.
you ran out of heat.
you ran out of
mothers and fathers.

today the skies are grey
the birds called
the telephone ringing
in your ears

your body
now hot
now cold
uncomfortably lukewarm

your fingers tear
like a cracker cracking
your teeth chatter
like a telephone ringing

someone's calling
calling, calling
mother and father
in your ears

no milk.
no heat.
the pages turn.
today the skies are grey.