They tried to un-watch her in their minds
her sluggishadow-flashes
and the clink tinkle of a swallow
interrupted family TV.


Sudden black silhouette
against the refrigerator door.
The one-tilt, two-swig-ged
traffic soothed her
Slim
vodka
neck.


Popov aluminum cap
spun silver circles in the kitchen air.
Back to the TV room
help with homework, brush her hair-


In the name of equilibrium
She kept
one hand on the bottle
the other crying mercy.