Misophonia

behind me on the train

sucking soda through a straw

pushing the straw up and down

through the splintered hole

of a thin plastic cover

sucking soda through the straw

in my backpack the solution

i just happen to have

a large wooden cutting board

which i remove

gripping the bottom of both ends

of the short side

sucking soda

pushing the straw

sucking

as the momentum of my turn-around

slams the top of the board

upside one stunned face

then the afterglow

the ensuing silence

the relief

broken by a sound from hell

the kars4kids commercial

from some distant radio

in my backpack the solution

i just happen to have

an axe

11/19/2024