You swallow the pill
(every day)
and always it lingers bitter and clawing
at your throat and joints and it just sits there
afterwards.
The hours are measured by the pill
(and not much else).
So that's how you count them – today is,
simply,
Pill 1,536, it's all too easy
to keep track of them
really.

Though sometimes you wonder – one day,
just one day, would it really be that bad? No pill
no pain
because what could be worse?
No more pills, in exchange for your life.
(one more sip of water, it resists pebble-like and slips through your aching esophagus)

The count continues – pill 1,872 has come
and abruptly
(because to measure is to observe is to change)
it stops.
You've lost count.
That's it. The days are losing focus, sliding past, faster and faster the pain is suddenly enjoyable but you don't know anymore whether to be scared and now it's a cartwheel, head spinning, so

So you swallow one more.

It is pill 2

not 1,872

(you realize).