by Noah Rawlings
Hesitated at
the head of the end of
bridge over water troubled boy trembled water
you doing ?? car roars—no—
passenger in car roars from car
wonders what the water what are you doing doesn’t wonder
enough to stop not fearful enough to
stop the jump, “acrophobia, seemingly-paradoxically, can also
engender the desire to jump when one
suffering from acrophobia is in a high place” (citation needed)
“desire engenders belief” (citation needed)
Splash! Into waterock death.
Down into heaven—no. Crush
crack creak splintering bones batter
brains no okay here it goes into the earth he
landed on the craggy edge of the creek,
fall free through the air like
son like father went
skydiving just a few days ago
freefalling for fortieth birthday no forties for me Pff!
Lanky limbs poking out
flaps of flesh lifting to allow the exit of curious white shafts
eager to push little pieces
calcium makes em stronger not enough
creamy
strawberrysplatter on frozen milk
AHHHHHHHHHH his mouth says his mind says
“……”
for a while but his mouth says
AHHHH
kid shoulda found a higher place
oh fuck oh sweet mother jesus fuck
When he calls Them and They find him
two shattered legs They say to him
fuck my parents
are going to
kill me
he says to himself