The night I pierced my own belly button by Maria McMillan

Can’t wait to get out



of this hole of a town

she said. For years

we’d been planning

our escape. Had compiled

a list of compulsory

adventures involving

our own brilliant selves

and various disposable

sidekicks in locations

ranging from the giant

aquarium tank in

downtown Monterey

to a moonlit bridge

in Vietnam arched like a

bony cat’s back, to mountains

with names only we knew.