Bitters

I am filling the ice cube trays again 

with bullets

like I do

whenever there are enough 

grudges in the pile

to make them worth saving 

injuries too 

stick in my memory 

I keep them in the 

knife drawer

well sharpened

and ready to 

pull out

vengeance is not

for boasting about

it’s another of those qualities 

we were discussing 

that even I know

is a poisoned glass

that I keep pouring 

and knocking back

because I mix anger

instead of alcohol

into these cocktails

the j’en ai marre-tini

the aperol blitz 

the last word.