Spelunking

By rope
we slowly lower ourselves
into the giant hole in the earth
the dragon’s lair
the belly of the beast
a direct drop to Hades’ living room

the cave walls shimmer
as our flashlights shine against them
the reflections dancing to the beat
of our echoes

we stare down Satan’s mouth
descending into the blackness
as if inspecting for cavities
awed by the beauty
of those ugly crooked teeth.

The big game

My house was on fire
a gentle heat
family members
football games
glowing embers

we were the same shade of Husker Red

the flames engulfed me as I walked across the kitchen
past the buffet of food, organized so delicately
rows down the table for a million miles, all but untouched

the flames engulfed me with the laughter of my father
the tense crackle of a tree set fire about to collapse
I listened for ashes in the breeze
putting cousins to sleep

the flames engulfed me as I watched that Sea of Red light up the TV
match to gasoline

I happily burned.