The sink got clogged today. I airily said I would take care of it,
waved a nonchalant hand at my mother and spared her retches.
'No of course I won't lose my appetite.'

After breakfast, I returned with the plunger
But it only made little sucking noises and water slop-spurted out
from the little slit under the tap
Like the sink vomiting on me. At me.
Little things were floating around in the water,
not disgusting but ghosts of things disgusting.
I prodded deeper in the pipe with a straightened-out clotheshanger,
And roused greenish-black memories that drifted eerily in the clean water,
Returning to haunt those who had no concern for the plumber.