Cracked Knuckles

Popping through dinner in a fancy restaurant

Under the the white linen table cloth joints full of air, ah, sweet release

In the bathroom stall twisting side to side, just enough to feel tensions break

Neck side to side, both big toes, ligaments in pelvic joints slide on and off

Coughing while someone washes their hands then re-popping until I am stuck

Too long in the bathroom with my aperitif sitting alone, growing old, cold

Scrunching my nose, pinching my nostrils on my tippy toes until a squeaky voice calls

"You alright in there?" I over did it. I say, be right out, as I bite the sides of my thumbs

Cheers! We're all together, friends reading books and laughing over wine

I start squeezing my eyes shut over and over until someone notices

I say they itch, but they don't.