Original DDE™ art: “Carving The Drop” by: rob kistner © 12/23/25
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staring out the jump door at 10,000 feet
is absolutely breathtaking — literally
a mix of excitement and terror
am I stone cold crazy…!
but— I step cleanly into nothingness
trained calm replacing panic
body already choosing direction
wind rises fast— a living wall
whistling pitch climbing into a hard
beastly roar around my helmet
speed gathers like intention
air thickens— sculptable
something I can lean against
I angle a shoulder… roll a hip…
and the fall answers— obedient
precise…exhilarating
the sound sharpens—
no fluctuation now—
a continuous pressing roar
velocity etching into muscle
the suit ripples and snaps
seams vibrating like strings
I cut left— then steepen
drawing curves through sky
as if sketching with my spine
cloud fragments shred past
jump suit slapping loudly now
I’m gone before thought follows
below— earth rushes upward
in disciplined layers… grids…
earthen veins resolving cleanly
wind claws louder— rocketing down
a tunnel of compressed force
frugal breath synced to motion
I spread my arms— flatten briefly
surfing the column to dive again
committing fully to pure descent
control becomes instinct
altimeter rolls like slot machine
only angle… tension… flow remain
five hundred feet waits
but not yet— this is the …stretch…
the long final sentence of the drop
the air respects precision
yielding to coaxed steering
blistering speed without chaos
I carve one last line
through open cloudless sky
laughing inside the thunder
as I reach 500 ft above ground
I yank the cord… jerk upright
my body hit hard by the jolt
but then all becomes a drift
only the natural sound of wind
as my world settles
I calm my thoughts
looking around me
so beautiful
just a few more feet
and it is terra firma baby
then a few grateful steps
I fall back in the grass
let the tension drain away
slowly steady my breathing
and a few tears
relief —pure genuine joy
a wild yowl of exhilaration
rob kistner © 12/23/25