about 100 of us
herded into a room
w/a high ceiling
cathedral
& gigantic doors
flourescent light rods
and sharp corners that
tuck us into each other
the doors bolt and an
Army Sergeant
tells us that we’re going to war
and we can’t leave now
because we might not
come back
so there we are unpacked & expected for dinner
when suddenly a hatch opens in the floor
and a pilot emerges his teeth as shined as his
pin-on wings and belt buckle
says we’re gonna hafta jump for it
the doors open and we’re
a mile over the ocean
every one is caught in the crowd
as we begin to
empty into the sky
body by body by body
“ya know,” the kid beside me says
“f/this high up, I hear the water’s as hard as concrete”
he tries to smile but