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GILL ENGLAND

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Felix falls

 

What’s it like?

To look down and out

into space

for God’s sake.

To bum-shuffle out

to the edge

then plummet, plummet

at warp speed.

A death-helix descent.

Steady breathing

fragile membrane of normal

between you

and fiery disintegration.

While the woman that

bore and raised you

watches and cheers

as if it’s your first

soccer game.

 

 

 

Footnote: To Felix Baumgartner, skydiver and daredevil, who jumped from a world record 127,852 feet (38969.3 metres), 14 October 2012.

 

 

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