Void

It was before dawn when I saw him
hurtle behind an asteroid
illuminating my telescope with the flash
of a cheap bathroom bulb
too hot and burst under stress.

And you can flip the switch but
the cosmos told him to hide
so he’ll nick himself shaving
and give up on toothpaste.

There are craters in him. Deep swells
that betray the empty nights of the tick-
tock-tick-tock-ticking in his temples.
And all the Nytol, melatonin supplements,
lavender oil and soft touches
don’t know how to help.

 

 

Izzy Lamb works as an Editorial Assistant and Project Manager for a scientific book publisher, ISTE. Her work has been published by otoliths, morphrog and The Honest Ulsterman. She can be found at @IzzySLamb.