Moments ago it was cool breezy fall day
when the sky filled with birds escaping.
How did they know in advance?

As I scratch this itch that won’t go away,
patches of hairy skin peel off to fall
between my fingers and plummet to the ground.
I imagine this should be more painful.

Digging fingernails in deep to the bone.
Illogically overwhelmed by this itch
which remains my hard focus.

My bone now exposed to the environment.
In shock I touch my head to feel
strong warm confident skull.

Single tear of blood from my head.
Single tear of blood from my eye.
Why isn't there more?
I must be melting from the top down.

Made it to the edge of the thermal radiation zone
by the time the tires of my car started slowly
melting into the bubbling pavement.

I crouch low like that will help as if somehow
it’s possible to get underneath the toxic layer.
This fluctuating world is heat warped.
Hopefully my eyeballs don’t evaporate.

The sun hides behind acidic thundering clouds of earth above.
Now almost as dark as night with a full moon.
A dull mangled orange has ripped out all of life’s shadows.

My dogs eyes wickedly glow through the haze
as he stares out at what I assume to be

a better
day.