"Are you alright?"

There is a light
behind these dark eyes
presently shining inward
like a torch searching
for a valued coin
rolled under the
sofa

the buzz of tinitus
makes straight cuts
marking templates out
for future sounds

so I sit
bound to confess
dishonesties

always the pacifier
giving way and
when asked if
‘alright’ would
lie and answer
‘yes, fine’

for fuck’s sake
enough

the torch finds
the coin and it
is pushed into
the slot marked
‘speak your truth’

Into the light