A place for stories about chronic illness, disability, mental health, and neurodivergence.

38, No Coffee

By

Ginger tea sipped 
to steady the stomach, 
dipped in hot water 

in a porcelain mug 
bearing the seal of where 
I went to school,

when I thought
I wouldn’t drink tea 
without five boozes

till I was old and retired 
in sun with ice and lemon.
But tea is for any age 

like death       so steep
and sip and steady 
and wait.

Contributor

  • Brett Stuckel (he/him) has published work in Electric Literature, Wordgathering, Split Lip Magazine, Hobart, and elsewhere. He lives in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and is online at www.brettstuckel.com and @brettstuckel.com (Bluesky).