When I Get the Hiccups by Melanie Browne

When I get the hiccups,
I was taught by my mamma
to drink nine gulps of
water while holding
my breath and it almost always
works, like nine times out of
10 and I sing in my head
while drinking maybe Suzy Q
or Bob Wills because why not,
Roly Poly, daddy's little fatty
Bet he's gonna be a man someday
my son asks his dad a question
about algebra 2 while I am
drinking my lukewarm water
what does the Y intercept mean?
but now the music has
changed & Bessie smith is singing
St Louis Blues and Bob rode
50 miles on horseback to see
her sing, saddle sores and all
well worth the trouble, oh yes
the moonlight sprinkling
in through the ancient windows
lighting up her hair as she sings

Melanie Browne is a poet and fiction writer living in Texas. She has been published in various journals and online literary magazines such as Pulp Metal Magazine. She has also been included in several anthologies, including Zombies Galore and Everyday poets 2.