Flying Lesson: Emergency Jump

Zero-zero:
no ceiling,
no visibility.

Five minutes’ fuel.
Four.
Three.

Climb the cowling.
Bend your knees,

hurl yourself
head first
into night and cloud.

Watch out for the ship
gliding down without you.

Away from its path,
jerk the cord.
Release the silk.

Cross your ankles.

Earth pulls you back,
hard and particular.