Tag: low key apocalypse vibes

wendy burk

Phosphorus

An enduring without sensible heat.

I.
No, it’s not the last day of the world, but I really need this.
All day long, people walking towards me, something shining
out of their mouths: are you bringing
light for me? No, they don’t want me. They barely know
to want themselves. But look at their faces,
their chins, how peaceful they are with it!

II.

I burn home. Around the table, my neighbors, glowing behind their faces like toy lamps. They are blue at dusk, blue crystal, under a light that leaves us.        If I could lift my hand, reach into my head, and pull out the beads of my fate-necklace, hot like an agate. Although it is not the last day, although for the rest of my life that hand will be deformed.