Under the Influence of Caffeine

A jittery heart rate.

With fingers attempting what is usually called steady,

Though they give an urgent twitch.

And your legs tap continuously,

As the heel lifts up and down.

Up and down.

Up and down.                       

And you try to steady finger tips,

As they cradle the pen that pushes to paper,

A rolling ball of ink to spread

Your shaking words.

As your mind ticks from one.

Point.

To.

The.

Next.

Thinking faster than the words will sink to the paper,

Dying to be heard,

Immediately.

Too impatient for the slow pull of your jerking fingers.

Pushing out of your mind and into your hand.

Before you even know what you’ve thought.

And once it’s all been painted on

Ruled paper.

Your shaking palm pauses to push that last sip of morning coffee to your lips.

6/2/2014

Riley Welch