Taking The Dogs Out By Jake St. John

I fell down 

the stairs 

again 

tonight 

feet skyward

eye level

spotlighted

in the overhead

lamp

the banister 

hovering

just out of reach

as I land

on my 

tailbone 

in a pile

of kids

sneakers

paint cans 

flying

in all directions

I struggle 

to my feet

 

and realize

none of my friends 

will believe 

I was sober.

  

Jake St. John lives in the woods on the edge of the Salmon River. He is the author of several collections of poetry including Ring of Fog (Holy and Intoxicated Publications, 2022), Night Full of Diamonds (Whiskey City Press, 2021), and Lost City Highway (A Jabber Publication, 2019). He is the editor of Elephant and is considered an original member of the New London School of poetry. His poems have appeared in print and online journals around the world