Drew Pisarra

 Pillow Talk

My boyfriend hands me some necessary med.

I think I’m quite sick. I’ve got a bad flu

that’s warping my thinking, that fucks w/ my head,

a sickness that makes me wish, I were dead.

An illness can plant such an idea inside you.

My boyfriend hands me some necessary med:

a plain pink pill; a capsule half yellow, half-red;

and one other one, two distinct shades of blue.

“That’s warping my thinking. That fucks with my head,”

I tell him. I’m pretty sure that’s what I said.

He holds out the glass. I know what to do.

My boyfriend hands me some necessary med

then patiently sits on the side of my bed

as I pop the four pills then drink up. My temp is 102.

That’s warping my thinking, that fucks w/ my head.

There’s a stain on the pillowcase where I’ve bled

‘though I’m less sure what’s caused this bad bruise.

My boyfriend hands me some necessary med

that’s warping my thinking. It fucks w/ my head.

Drew Pisarra is the author of two poetry collections, Periodic Boyfriends (2023) and Infinity Standing Up (2019); two short story collections,You're Pretty Gay (2021) and Publick Spanking (1996); and two radio plays, Price in Purgatory (2023) and The Strange Case of Nick M. (2021).