There is a something that occurs
when nothing else does
An emptiness fills the room
a silence
it creeps
seeps
into the outer edge of consciousness
A heartbeat
heard
Is this what I run away from?
This
nothing
When I pick up a glass
fill it
The way I used to
light a cigarette
breathe in
smoke curling
inhaling
Trying to plug the hole
that stems from within
yawns
grins
at me as I stare in fixed concentration
at the nothing
but I can’t
fill it
quiet it
For it is quietness itself
revealed
Unconcealed it waits
When I finally stop
it grates
on my nerves
my blood filled veins
pump
I jump
peer over
The anaesthetic wall
between us
There is no cigarette
no alcohol
no drug
Nothing to fill the nothing
which seems to hum
like a living thing
so the clock ticks
and the crickets click
and the night closes in
and we sit
you with your glass
me with none
and the whole world unravelling
one
by
one
The header photo is a shot taken at Lake Nooga Nooga in Western Qld.
Beautiful photo, Kate! I also like this way of writing.. sort of like a suspense novel.. building up with every image.
Thanks Liz ✨😊