Perception's Stages

close enough it was. or had been. the difference negligible.

the world all fever and shivers. like neglected children.

the atoms slipped outside their equilibrium. heavy oars in a boat without an anchor.

told were the tales. spent was the skin. frail like paper. narrow like memory.


we gathered. our cotton eyes. and sunken fists. vehemently arguing with the math.

insisting upon the truth. even as it betrayed our every edge.

until only the textures remained. cold accusations. and sealed boxes.

heavy with both the living and the dead.


the light shone in too many places. 

daring us to see. 

how dark it is.