hiccups

long in, long out, sharp in—

they say it’s the way to drive away the demon of the hiccups. the psalmist says “Let God arise and may His enemies by scattered” but at this point I’d settle for a little jostling.

a lanky chuckle from the doorway and I grin through the frown purpling my cheeks. he slinks to me and cheap beer hits me hard as it hit him.

don’t worry they’ll pass he says. you’re drunk I say what do you know, more than you he sharps back. then maybe he’s trying to scare them out of me because he grabs my shoulder and his eyes pin me in place like a needle through a bug. hiccup.

flash of a grin and then he frowns like thunder. he moves his thumb to my chin and tilts everything up. ya know I always and then he stops like his pen ran outta ink. his eyes pray to someone maybe me and lucky for us I can still read him well enough.

the psalmist says “cleanse me with hyssop” and I never knew what hyssop was. maybe it’s 7 pbr’s because I sure feel spotless.

long in, long out. sharp in—