Flat Head, Tiny Sting

Barefoot in the dark,

just trying to get a glass of water,

and there it was.

Not a full-on pierce,

just a hard, flat pressure

against my heel,

then a throb, a pinpoint blush of red.

I flicked on the hall light.

A clear plastic thumbtack,

innocent on the shag.

Its blunt head

glinting, an ugly eye

watching me.

So small, so easy to miss,

but it demanded my whole attention.

Some things just do.