coughing all day

nearly all day i have a tiny

sliver

of an almond stuck

mid way in my throat.

i cough

for hours, thinking it's

almost gone,

but it's not.

i drink water.

i drink coffee, nothing

seems to work,

i gargle ginger ale,

nothing seems to loosen

it from it's

stuck place.

but all day i have

the best seats

all to myself

on the bus

and subway.

the elevators are just me

and the lines are suddenly

shortened

at the coffee shops too.