as if, by pushing harder, faster,
jumping higher, farther,
lifting heavier, longer
i can somehow burst this brain
out of this body
fix the fractures
in this breaking mind,
kaleidoscope shattering
pain
explosion, breath scarlet,
sweat streaking through
half-shut-eyes
the meaning of life
defined by one more heartbeat
one more leap
one more rending breath
muscles straining into flight,
throbbing life
only in this: survival
(mind invincible,
thought defeated by body striving)
E s c a p e