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
