Michael Crippen

I Barely Escaped with My Life

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I doused myself with gasoline

—the first parts to burn were my eyes and hair—

and with a minute hand signal

the air and water left me.

My shirt became a zeppelin,

filled with spirit and bone,

and my teeth marched away, unheeded.

The fumes rose, and I was left to sleep.

 

I slept until the earth turned again.

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untitled

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punctuation is important in this life

pause

because it ties sentences

and schedules                        break

and who knows

(really)

may even end relationships

period

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