The Ofi Press Magazine

International Poetry and Literature from Mexico City

Ann Gibson: 1 Poem Published

Poem by Ann Gibson (Ireland/ Switzerland)

Published in The Ofi Press issue 41

 

  

Placebo Effect

 

She would set out pills in rows before her,

arrange in colour groups or sorted shapes,

touch them fondly, deify, adore,

then take them reverently, like communion.

 

Those little gods dispelled unease and pain;

catholicon-induced oblivion

dissolved her worries, eased her weary load,

let her withdraw from worldy wear and tear.

 

But restless rumbles reached from underneath

and she caught glimpses of what life could be

if she threw off her veil of lassitude,

cracked open her anaesthesised cocoon.

 

So, terrified, (till it became the norm)

she grasped challenges, laughed like she meant it,

forced herself to frolic, sought out friends,

hoodwinked her brain to hype some happiness.

 

She ditched the drugs, limbered up her limbics

on her own.  Satisfaction flowed,

gratitude cranked up a chain reaction

till it felt real and good to be alive.

About the Poet

Ann Gibson spent her childhood in Dublin and now lives in North Yorkshire and Switzerland.  She has always been an avid reader and has, more recently, learned to enjoy writing and playing with words.  She combined these interests when she completed a part-time MA in Literature Studies at St. John’s University in York.  She has published poetry in Leaf, Blinking Eye, Biscuit and Chuffed Buff Books anthologies as well as Acumen, Prole and Ariadne’s Thread magazines.

Image: "Pills 1"by e-Magine Art.