A Dying Star (Migraine)

by Katie Pippel

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A cat is shaking you by the scruff your neck
(if an exposed nerve had a neck).

Your wiring is faulty
(and starting a fire).

Your alarm system is malfunctioning
(and only getting louder).

You are a dying star
(compressing and exploding).

Or maybe, you're just dying
(if you're lucky).

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Katie Pippel is a resident of the Pacific Northwest and an English Language Arts teacher, artist, and dancer. Her poetry is shaped by her experience with chronic illness, specifically endometriosis. She endured 4 surgeries in her treatment, including a hysterectomy at age 31. She hopes her writing contributes to the rising tide for this debilitating disease.

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