Twirling in the Kitchen
by Sandy Chaves
I reach for jam from the pantry
for my buttered toast
swirl back for a dark chocolate truffle
place both on the counter below the shelf
with the stack of yellow melmac plates
pluck one off the top that has
a ring of orange flowers around its rim
swing back to the counter for one more thing
twirling out of control
down to the floor
landing SMACK on my elbow
with such a hard blow
I'm sure that I mashed it
I know from the pain which is the severest
that once again I have broken a bone
and am in for a night at the dreaded ER
waiting for an X ray to prove it
stars like fire flies flicker round my head
cell phone is tossed ten feet away
I try to get up but the pain is too great
the slightest pressure
drives the pain deeper
how with only one arm can I get to the door
and the black leather couch ten feet away
to make the vital call?
my body flounders on the kitchen floor
I slide crawl sideways like an inchworm
grasping at an open drawer or cupboard
to give me leverage to pull myself up and along
reaching the kitchen/living room door
I continue inching my way
towards the near side of the couch
and its low square arm
closer and closer I spot my cell
a gleam of metal on the natural wood floor
next to one of the six chrome legs
just inches away
I snatch it
clutching my phone
I drape my torso over the side of the couch
my feet just touching the ground
in this position I make the call
#Culture #poetry
