JANINA AZA KARPINSKA

Diary Entry

Today hit the fan 
made loud clicking sounds
like something catching the spokes of a bicycle wheel,
or a child running a stick along railings
on their way home from school.

There were sparks
the smell of dust warmed up 
layered on the bars of an old electric heater 
dragged down from the attic.

Today rankled, 
and stank a little. 

Later was a small fishbone
stuck in the flesh of my throat
which I tried to hook out with the tip of my pinkie
that caused me to retch

Finally came as an egg-white 
not quite cooked; yolk 
unblinking, staring
coldly.