THE TYPE OF WOMAN

the type of woman

that even with her body

imploding in slow motion

tubes running through

her like subway tunnels

beeping machines

beeping beats of a

fluttering heart

beaten arrested muscles

fossilizing under

paper skin

yeast-filmed tongue

swollen

obstructive as

she coughs

and hacks up

the words

baby

reach in my purse

and grab my

lipstick