Namkyu Oh

WHISKEY STEPS – NOTES BY A CONNOSSEIUR

Slow
Always slow
Pour
Uncap and let a brown
barrel child step into
the glass
Stop
Slow
Spoon a droplet
of water with a metal finger
and let it go.
The drop is a clear-tailed comet
diving into a muddy lake, only to be
suspended by its own gravity.
Five minutes and this rock will whisper
into a million pieces. these pieces are
small tadpoles swimming in every direction,
scything the pool into newly fitted slivers.
Smell
Drag
Pull
Sinus
Hold
Once the water loosens the alcohol, the
bitter fist will bloom a spiced caramel
dipped in floral. There
is a bed of vanilla waiting to be dreamt it.
Walk into it.
Taste
Slow
Hold
gargle
Your tongue is church floor. The taste
buds are devout disciples, and this single
malt is the first prayer of the night. Push,
pull, and swirl until the pastor leaves the room.
Swallow
Hold
Punch back
Slow
Kick
Hold
Exhale
Again
 


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Namkyu Oh is a Korean-born New Jersey native currently studying politics and poetry at Princeton University, where he is a member of the Songline Slam Poetry group. His work has been recently featured in publications such as GRAVEL and Crack the Spine.