the hangover song

he sits drinking coffee
black coffee in a cup from denny's
like buddha contemplating the circle
between his hands
coffee cup like a talisman
to take away the demons
those demons behind his eyes
he pours it hot as a cat's tongue
so it scalds
how sweet do you want it
how sweet
he drinks coffee black and sweet
little crystals sweet
contemplating nirvana
salman rushdie in hiding
in the newspaper folded at his side
and trying to forget the demons
those demons behind his eyes
he pours himself another
adds sugar
how sweet do you want it
how sweet do you need it
how sweet
drinking coffee till his hands shake
till he kicks out those demons
how sweet
how sweet those demons behind his eyes
how sweet


February 8, 1996
© Lela Kaunitz