coffee moist lips hesitantly approach the microphone

almost but not quite touching its protective metal mesh

feet and legs splay to find balance on either side of rigid chrome stand

there is a hidden curling and uncurling of toes

tightness radiates in a perverse infestation to kink the nape of the neck

clench the jaw

play "twitches" with the eyebrows

shoulders hunch and arms origami downward outward

and upward toward sheets of vellum

fingers tremble slightly balancing the weight cradled between thumbs and palms

it makes sense at this moment
to sit and listen to the sound of the Acela going to Boston and all points north
to order a double shot of espresso and fill in the Sunday crossword
to go watch the woman collecting aluminum cans on State Street
to not be here

a writer's prayer is heard over the twin black-faced speakers

a breath whispered for inner peace 

recalled for outward courage

it is time

to undress private thoughts in this exposed place

eyes, incestuously promiscuous, caress WORDS as each page turns

until finding the just the right

VISION

DREAM

NIGHTMARE

OBSESSION

MASTURBATION

FURTIVELY-SCRIBBLED-IN-THE-NIGHT-SELF-CREATION

to pour public over chain-smoked poet's tongue

listen