ice it down

your knee
makes a noise
when you get up
from reading
the paper,
or a book
for an hour
or so, it's
a slight crackling
sound, like
wood snapping
in a fire.
it hurts a little
at first,
but after a few
steps towards
the kitchen
it feels better.
sometimes you
take an ice cube
and rub it on
the place where it
hurts,
and other times
you put the ice
cube into a small
glass where you
pour vodka
on top of it before
heading back
to the couch.