Spill

The dry air of the cereal aisle

tastes like cardboard and dust.

Then, the warm, thick sliding

behind my teeth.

I looked down at the white floor.

One drop, then three,

blooming like a bright red spot

on the linoleum.

The woman with the coupons stared

under the long fluorescent tubes.

I put my hand to my face,

holding the heat in,

leaking through my fingers

while the register beeped and beeped.