He spoke to me in hush,
standing there.

SO THIS IS HOW IT IS GOING TO END

It was a whisper,
but the words boomed
echoed
and drifted
into the pale.

Bright sun.
Perfect skies.
Dust for the pixies?

They said you can't even see
the stuff that gets you.
Hard to tell
if the people that rushed outside
had blisters.
They all fell face down.

Every drill, they said,
whatever you do--
do not panic
and do not go outside.
Piled up like lemmings.

SO THIS--

It was only two minutes,
then the tap from my left.
Just my buddy.

He's already rigged,
looking bucket-headed
like a low rent Sith Lord.

Pinch nose.
Insert mouth piece.
Pull hood overhead,
tighten velcro.
Shallow breaths.

A handwritten note passed--
the elevators are off.
Stairways recommended
to higher ground.
Shallow breaths?

One hour to live.

SO...

08/10/2004

Posted on 08/11/2004
Copyright © 2025 D. Xavier Bari