THE TYPE OF WOMAN

the type of woman
that even with her body
imploding in slow motion
tubes running through
her like subway tunnels
beeping machines
beeping beats of a
fluttering heart
beaten arrested muscles
fossilizing under
paper skin
yeast-filmed tongue
swollen
obstructive as
she coughs
and hacks up
the words

baby
reach in my purse
and grab my
lipstick