modern medicine (a.k.a. pill popping)

most days for breakfast
i have cornflakes, peaches and low-fat soy milk
with

three grey and pink capsules

which increase my appetite

and make my face round

and are meant to make me healthy

one yellow tablet

which makes me nauseous

and destroys my immune system

and is meant to make me healthy

and one white tablet

which gives me headaches

and makes me woozy

and suppresses the nausea

some days i wonder
why i bother

Paula Harris

Published in Takahe 41
January 2001