Fade

Watercolors fade
Dripping down the TV screen
Moving pictures of old movies
racist Westerns

The volume stays low
Reading lips on the TV screen
Lightweight distractions and
casual misogyny

The IV pole stands
Dripping medication
Dropping straight to your heart
improvised nursing

Thermostat stays high
Pumping air through the house
Beads of sweat on the forehead
shaking with cold

Watching you fade
Day after day
The picture on the TV screen
static and grey