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Henry, This Is What You Wanted
By Matthew Brothers Henry Bemis, this is what you wanted, “time enough at last.” Before, you were mocked. At your work, they scoffed. Bank teller, bookworm. Sad to say they don’t go together well. Reading on the job, your boss’ head throbs. Engrossed in the book, you convey the plot to the customer. She’s not pleased when she’s shortchanged, Henry, please. Your wife asks you to read her A poem. Then you see She’s blacked out the words. On your break, you go to the bank’s back vault. This place is perfect for reading in peace. Your stress is released. While reading, you cross into a land of “shadow and…
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Galactic Waters
By Matthew Brothers Resting against the backdrop of pinpointed light, the nebulous cloud like stretched sea smoke. There are no waves in the black, yet the sea and space share vastness, one much greater than the other. The snowball nebula rests in the cold void, it’s the opposite of snowball earth, it’s beautiful. Well, snowball earth is beautiful, from the outside at least. It floats on a sea holding black matter and cosmic clams. How can the sea and space have a connection? The milky seas send up their light for the satellites to see, and that is all the connection they need. Take this fact from me and you…
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Idée Fixe
By Matthew Brothers * So, you see, sigh, swallowed by shame; sickened. You swim in the cleanse, feeding the bursting red. The cycle surely starts again, and soon; you crumple and swoon. * Staring at the spectacular moon, you hope you can hold off. Don’t engage, don’t engage, don’t engage. * Euphoric seconds, that’s all she wrote, all the shame to bare for seconds. Seconds. Seconds. You engage in seconds. * The soulful swell of sorrow and disgust spew up, Siamese cats strut, pounce swift, and never feel your shame. The shame is for you and yet could spring on all, but no reaction should be the same. * At…
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Flicker
By Matthew Brothers Lights flick on, lights flick off. Lights flick on, lights flick off. In the dark, creatures dwell, can’t you tell? So, don’t turn out the light. Unless you want to be plunged into that chaotic night, don’t ever turn out a light. If you heeded my word, you can read this warning well, you’ll be ok, so long as you remember. Keep the generator running; the electricity can’t run still. In light, you’re safe. In dark, meet your grisly fate. There’s a line between the horizon of safety and demise. It’s a clear switch when light enters and exits. But when lights flicker, what happens? Will…
