Forgotten

sluggishly coming around
curled up in the corner
by the cold hearth
forgotten
a spider resting on its masterpiece
eyes me speculatively
the only company I have
while the happy sounds of others
seep in from outside the window

I don’t want to move
to have to face the day
when this dusty corner has become home
cold, hard
like my stomach feels
when I think about donning a smile
pretending
swallowing pride
as others swallow me whole

time sweeps over me
I can tell from the sun’s rays
oscillating in the window

opening crusty eyes
hoping for a new world
the spider has gone
the web beckons
I want to feel any embrace
but I can’t reach out

the hearth remains cold
even as night descends
the others have come and gone
unseeing
I lie almost unfeeling
forgotten