listens to her clock
peers into her mirror

writes letters
(never acknowledged)

writes poems
(always rejected)

paints pictures
hangs them on the wall
around the mirror

"I'm not kidding myself"
she writes
"no one cares what I do
nor for me as a person
I'm not worried
but I am tired
I take too many pills"

(no reply)

writes another letter

"do you need cash?
could always lend you some
my address is
and my phone number
in case you've forgotten''

(no reply)

writes another letter

"by the way
you can have a couple of hundred
better to give away than to lend
and then be disappointed
never get it back"

(no reply)

writes another letter
encloses poems
"tell me what you think"

(no reply)

writes
"I'm not kidding myself"

scrutinizes the mirror
stares at the clock
thirty thirty-five forty fifty