The Normal School 2012
A Literary Magazine, Volume Five, Issue One
http://thenormalschool.com/

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HOSPITAL ACCOUNTS

Krystyna Lenkowska

Translation: Ewa Hryniewicz-Yarbrough

I step accidentally into a clear puddle by Father's bed
"Glucose", says a woman in the next bed
yes there's a leak in the IV
every seventh drop falls on the floor I've counted

I walk down the fire escape and listen to the rhythm
of my soles sticking and unsticking
I take away something that could have been life
I carry it out on my shoes together with dust and mites

the squeaky steps fade as I descend
the sticky stuff dissolves in street dirt and disappears

can I tally what I've taken from him over these years
how much I drained or changed
into small drops?