The drag of the drawer
The twist of the cap
The clink of the ice
against the glass.
A better feeling than the sounds of today’s past.
The burn on the lips
The sting on the gums
The calm of the mind
despite the hum.
A different feeling than whatever is never done.
There’s no coming back from this now
You’ll push it as far as your tired eyes allow
Maybe you’ll luck out and eventually wake up
Maybe you’ll dry out all that good luck.
Just hold on for the spins to end|
That’s not clarity, you know—that’s the bends.
The blood from the shards
The pain from the cut
The scorn of the mirror
says you’ve had enough.
A rotten feeling that tomorrow you’ll give up.
David Himmel is the author of the books Hope Idiotic, The Last DJ, and A Camp Story. An award-winning journalist, he has contributed to several news outlets including POLITICO and The Atlantic. Leader of his two sons and their dog, he's a sailor who does not spend enough time on his boat. Subscribe to his Substack, The Autopsy .
