poem for a hangover

poem for a hangover
by jayne fenton keane
A hydroid wakes.
Cells visit cells | hold parties | while you sleep.
At the end of the night
you wake | wondering | who kidnapped your body
while you were sleeping.
There’s a shark rising in your thoughts.
Your tongue evolves into some kind of amphibian
on the verge of extinction.
Pretty in paralytic sleep
your dreams are full of reptiles. Spent the night shedding skin |
snapping splints out of wishes.
Running on the spot for antivenom.
Your lips are wrinkled fingertips | in the bath too long | your eyes
are two frightened puffer fish.
Pricking in the dark
prickling through high kicks | holding your breath
peering out from under the sheets.