The Postmodern

I woke with a start,
my eyes open and blinded,
a light in my face.
My hand raised to block the light.
A force slammed my arm to my side.

A chair,
I was sitting in a chair,
belted down to a wooden,
weathered chair with
my shadow,
cast by the glaring light,
atop a cracked concrete slab.

Cracked...
numerous cracks...
an abundance of cracks...
one more blow and the slab would crumble.

A cable
attached to a brace
on my ankles -- right and left.
My wrists,
bound the same -- cables and braces.

Cables...
extending from me,
attaching to me,
from where I could not see.

A voice played:
Defiance and Defiance and Defiance

My eyes couldn't see beyond the light.
My hand rose to shade my eyes.
The cable jerked.
My hand slammed to my side.

A voice played:
Defiance and Defiance and Defiance

My ears were ringing.
My eyes were blinded.
My skin was cold.

I wanted out of the chair.
The belt was leather and buckled.
It could be undone.

My hands moved to the belt.
no jerk from the cables
I loosened the buckle.
no jerk from the cables
Unbuckled,
I clutched the chair.
no jerk from the cables

A voice played:
Defiance and Defiance and Defiance

My eyes sought beyond me but couldn't.

I slowly stood.
no jerk from the cables
I took a step -- right... left...
no jerk from the cables
I took a step -- right... left...
no jerk from the cables

A voice played:
Defiance and Defiance and Defiance

My ears rang,
but didn't miss the rumble.
The concrete moldered.
piece by piece
it dropped and dropped
into air
only air
cracked concrete suspended
by nothing.

The chair dropped.
I dropped.
Fallen and falling
farther from the light
shining on the cables
dropping down after me,
hoping they might catch me.

Falling and Falling
into what? ...onto what? ...an abyss?
nothing

Defiance and Defiance and Defiance
rang in my head.

My ears heard a crash.
The cables jerked.
My body buckled.
My legs and arms collided.
I ached and I dangled.

My eyes could see.
The light still shown
though dim
There was ground.
It seemed like ground.
My eyes could see
remnants of chair and concrete
strewn upon the ground.

Ground.
There was ground...
one foot below me,
twelve inches beneath me,
and yet...
I dangled.