St. Jude’s Basement

The clip-on tie was a chokehold of polyester,

making the back of my neck start to fester.

The lilies in the aisle had a rot underneath,

like a sweet, heavy blanket over the teeth.

I held the Styrofoam cup with both thumbs,

watching the red punch go still as it numbs

the sound of the crying.

I’m still thirsty.