The numbness was wearing off,
& my tongue, thick as it was, vaguely recalled
its vital functions: to lick humidity
the body produces when over-heated. Most days
it’s used on superiors. While a lucky few
weekend by the waterfront & drink each other in,
spurred on by whatever closed curtains indicate,
I am scampering along in this manner,
taking the stairs two at a time
to my own personal hell—you know,
after you’ve fallen, some bastard’s pushed you
from behind, have you ever tried screaming then?
I was feeling deeply, how small the mouth is.
How small and open. How blank
the hours after work, how cavernous comes next—
then someone’s calling from the human race,
there’s a rescue party, someone tugs on the rope
and a child appears from the bottom of the mine shaft.