diff --git a/pkg/es/repl.go b/pkg/es/repl.go
index b9a6404..c3b357d 100644
--- a/pkg/es/repl.go
+++ b/pkg/es/repl.go
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ along with this program. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 package es
 
 import (
+	"bufio"
 	"bytes"
 	"context"
 	"crypto/tls"
@@ -34,19 +35,98 @@ import (
 	"github.com/chzyer/readline"
 )
 
+const intro = `Input format: verb path [data]"
+
+Example:
+
+post /yourindex/_ccr/pause_follow
+put /yourindex/_settings {"number_of_replicas": 1}
+
+You can also put multiline JSON after the path like:
+
+put /yourindex/_settings
+{
+  "number_of_replicas": 1
+}
+
+If you do NOT  supply a JSON in the first line, you  need to hit ENTER
+twice to complete.`
+
+func Repl(conf *cfg.Config) error {
+	verbs := []string{"post", "get", "put", "delete"}
+
+	fmt.Println(intro)
+	fmt.Println()
+
+	reader, err := readline.NewEx(&readline.Config{
+		Prompt:            "> ",
+		HistoryFile:       os.Getenv("HOME") + "/.config/esctl/history",
+		HistoryLimit:      500,
+		InterruptPrompt:   "^C",
+		EOFPrompt:         "exit",
+		HistorySearchFold: true,
+	})
+
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to initialize readline lib: %s", err)
+	}
+
+	for {
+		text, err := reader.Readline()
+		if err != nil {
+			break
+		}
+
+		text = strings.TrimSpace(text)
+
+		if text == "" {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		parts := strings.SplitN(strings.TrimSpace(text), " ", 3)
+		if len(parts) < 2 {
+			fmt.Println("error: you need to input a verb, uri [and post data]")
+			continue
+		}
+
+		if !slices.Contains(verbs, strings.ToLower(parts[0])) {
+			fmt.Println("error: verb must be one of " + strings.Join(verbs, ","))
+			continue
+		}
+
+		if !strings.HasPrefix(parts[1], "/") {
+			parts[1] = "/" + parts[1]
+		}
+
+		json := ""
+		if len(parts) == 3 {
+			// put /uri {json}
+			json = parts[2]
+		}
+
+		// put /uri/<Ret> [json]
+		data, err := readJSON(json)
+		if err != nil {
+			fmt.Println(err)
+		}
+
+		err = CallAPI(conf, parts[0], parts[1], data)
+		if err != nil {
+			fmt.Printf("failed to call API: %s\n", err)
+		}
+
+		reader.SetPrompt("> ")
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
 func encodeAuth(username, password string) string {
 	return base64.StdEncoding.EncodeToString([]byte(username + ":" + password))
 }
 
-func CallAPI(conf *cfg.Config, input []string) error {
-	var data string
-
-	verb := strings.ToUpper(input[0])
-	path := input[1]
-
-	if len(input) == 3 {
-		data = input[2]
-	}
+func CallAPI(conf *cfg.Config, verb, path, data string) error {
+	verb = strings.ToUpper(verb)
 
 	// we're using port-forwards anyway
 	tr := &http.Transport{
@@ -108,69 +188,37 @@ func prettyfiJson(conf *cfg.Config, raw []byte) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func Repl(conf *cfg.Config) error {
-	verbs := []string{"post", "get", "put", "delete"}
+// interactively  read  arbitrary  JSON  data  from  STDIN,  which  is
+// virtually a repl inside the primary repl
+func readJSON(input string) (string, error) {
+	data := ""
 
-	fmt.Println("Input format: verb path [data]")
-	fmt.Println("example: post /yourindex/_ccr/pause_follow")
+	if input != "" {
+		data = input
+	} else {
+		scanner := bufio.NewScanner(os.Stdin)
+		for scanner.Scan() {
+			line := strings.TrimSpace(scanner.Text())
 
-	reader, err := readline.NewEx(&readline.Config{
-		Prompt:            "> ",
-		HistoryFile:       os.Getenv("HOME") + "/.config/esctl/history",
-		HistoryLimit:      500,
-		InterruptPrompt:   "^C",
-		EOFPrompt:         "exit",
-		HistorySearchFold: true,
-	})
-
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to initialize readline lib: %s", err)
-	}
-
-	for {
-		text, err := reader.Readline()
-		if err != nil {
-			break
-		}
-
-		text = strings.TrimSpace(text)
-
-		if text == "" {
-			continue
-		}
-
-		parts := strings.SplitN(strings.TrimSpace(text), " ", 3)
-		if len(parts) < 2 {
-			fmt.Println("error: you need to input a verb, uri [and post data]")
-			continue
-		}
-
-		if !slices.Contains(verbs, strings.ToLower(parts[0])) {
-			fmt.Println("error: verb must be one of " + strings.Join(verbs, ","))
-			continue
-		}
-
-		if !strings.HasPrefix(parts[1], "/") {
-			fmt.Println("error: url path must start with /")
-			continue
-		}
-
-		if len(parts) == 3 {
-			data := map[string]any{}
-			err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(parts[2]), &data)
-			if err != nil {
-				fmt.Printf("error: input data is not proper JSON: %s", err)
-				continue
+			if line == "" {
+				break
 			}
-		}
 
-		err = CallAPI(conf, parts)
-		if err != nil {
-			fmt.Printf("failed to call API: %s\n", err)
+			data += line
 		}
-
-		reader.SetPrompt("> ")
 	}
 
-	return nil
+	if data == "" {
+		return data, nil
+	}
+
+	// validate
+	check := map[string]any{}
+	err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(data), &check)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("error: input data is not proper JSON: %s", err)
+
+	}
+
+	return data, nil
 }