Me Sufferer Writes Poetry Book

[Guest guest]

Overlooked by Ciara MacLaverty, ME Sufferer

I refuse to put up net curtains or Venetian blinds.

Lying in bed, my gaze falls on cement coloured sky.

I drink in January's daylight – vacant and flat

as a day old glass of water.

Through the bare trees, fluorescent light

glows sallow from your windows.

I see flickering computer screens,

wipe-clean memo boards;

an occasional bald man wearing glasses.

I can almost smell the photocopier;

sense the quiet comfort

of everyday purpose.

Can any of you see me?

I suspect my body is clearer than my face;

the daily ramp under the duvet;

a forearm glimpsed by the bedside lamp.

It's been years. I'm embarrassed; I want to explain.

I don't care; I shouldn't have to explain.

I wait for May's leaves to unfurl once more;

the explosion of green that keeps us

obscured from each other.

I will throw open my top floor window

and lie in a carpeted pool of sunlight.

Summer will smell sweet on my limbs

and only birds and airplanes will see my naked skin.

For more information about Ciara's poetry book visit:

http://www.ciaramaclaverty.co.uk/