river rat: NO2 hold onto a hot skillet from the oven
feel your skin slip off, removing a glove of yourself and
wonder why it took so much to wake you.
trip and stub your toe,
notice the spot where you should have used more adhesive and
worry how simple patience could have saved your nail bed.
write a check for all you've got,
all you've been able to save, your full net worth and
marvel how it's just a stain on paper, recognizable and worthless.
breathe for the first time,
fill your lungs with more air than you ever imagined and
consider where that breath will be once you're gone.
