in my shoe. I can’t shake
loose. I’ll have to stop. Take
the shoe off. Shake it to release
this flint that’s a tease. It’s as

fleas on a dog. Or a sneeze and
a cough I can’t let up. It’s the
tickle that’s fickle! In a blow
or a hack I’d have it off

my back. But I reach for
my stash than drop
the rock. It began as a pebble –
that turned me a rebel. The callouses

I bear from leaving it!