THE SNEEZE

by Mark Steuer

Mucosal droplet missiles launched at the speed of sound;
eyes slammed shut as contorted muscles
flex in a determined and coordinated thrust of
noise and motion;
united in violent release
for all within earshot to be heard
“Gesundheit.”
“God bless you.”
For those few precious microseconds,
as close to death as one can get
without actually dying.

Mark Steuer - poet and writer.