stay down along the carpet
I shoot up
(I'm low, stay low)
three inches of leeway
so I become a cat
flattened, my burning stomach
scraping against rug
pull myself finger by finger
clawing fibers, tearing boards beneath
(shut my eyes tight)
rationalize raising my head
(how I want to rest my face against the floor)
never look up again
but it's just a wall
it's just plaster
NO, no, there's more
eyes flutter, mine
my cheek against carpet, facing wallpaper
two inches above me
two sets of hands touch my face
it's just a mirror
just me
Me.