Opening Up

Opening Up

I know I’m in my second childhood
when I can no longer open a childproof cap.

Press and turn right gets me nowhere.
The direction arrow is hidden

in white circles in white print
on an all-white top

in a recessed braille scribble
determined to resist my finger reading.

I pull up—no heavenly release.
Down—just another circle of hell.

I look for a child older than five
playing outside on the community green,

but school is still in session
and I need to take my pill.

Seeing her medical vials littering the nightstand,
I risk rousing my snoring wife.

The dog, wagging under the blanket,
mercifully wakes her.

I show her the bottle,
its stubborn seal.

She opens it swiftly,
too fast for me to learn.

She puts the cap back on loosely,
hands it to me, returns to sleep.

I try to remove it gently,
but twist too far—locking it again.

Her bottles are neatly aligned,
black print on white tops.

I read the directions,
try to duplicate them on mine.

More frustration.
Her bottles are CVS.
Mine are Walgreens.

Each chain has its own locking system.
Each resists the aging hand.

Frustrated, I go to the kitchen,
smash the bottle open with a marinating mallet,

brave the shards,
and finally take my pill.

When she wakes,
she finds the fragments,

sighs,
and puts them in a ziplock bag.

There will be a tongue-lashing.
But I’ve taken my pill.

And now—
I can sleep.

Posted

October 13, 2025

JONATHAN MOYA

Comments

6 responses to “Opening Up”

clcouch123

October 14, 2025

I’m especially fond of the line about pressing down only to find “just another circle of hell.” I can relate to the situation and the process of the poem, since I have an increasing number of bottles. It was prudent to go look for a child to help.

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JONATHAN MOYA

October 14, 2025

You are very wise in the ways of opening pill caps.

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Swamigalkodi Astrology

October 14, 2025

Nice read

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Aaron Guile

October 14, 2025

A band saw a cures all difficult bottles.

I really like this poem. It really fills an interesting spot inside me: frustration with daily tasks.

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Heather Mirassou

October 26, 2025

Wonderful poem. I can relate. You are funny, yet serious at the same time. You have a new fan.
Heather

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JONATHAN MOYA

October 26, 2025

Welcome to the fan club.

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