i dig with both hands
mud swallowin
my wrists and forearms
pullin downward
the weight of the earth
draggin against my shoulders
roots knot round my fingers
knuckles cracked open by rocks
dirt packed under my nails
rainwater runnin brown
down my throat
slippin deeper
and the hole
keeps beggin
to become my grave
the deeper i dig
the more the earth moves thru me
mud risin in my throat
cold behind my teeth
mineral bitterness
spreadin on my tongue
til i’m coughin sludge
black and thick
from my lips
fallin warm
against my chest
beneath my hands
somethin starts clawin upward
shoulders draggin
thru soaked soil
bones grindin
under ruined skin
mouth hangin open
spillin dirt
with every breath
i instantly recognize my body
crooked jaw
split knuckles
blue eyes starin up at mine
pleadin
thru layers of mud
while the earth keeps tryin
to bury me again
i hook my hands
beneath my arms
and pull
mud collapsin inward
stones breakin loose round me
wet earth pressin into my ribs
from inside the hole
i let out
a muffled sound
half cough
half sob
i drag myself higher
inch by inch
and the hole keeps sinkin
deeper round my body
the harder i pull myself free
the more dirt fills my lungs
every breath
tastes buried
every cough
spills earth
and i can’t tell anymore
if i’m diggin myself out
or replacin my body
with more of me
