it burns
like pepper oil rubbed on flayed skin
it burns
like a thousand million billion Hells
focused through a magnifying glass
on the soft tender meat at the corner of your eyelid
I only want to go to the store.
We need soba noodles and soy beans.
My husband waits for me at home.
It was light now it is LIGHT
it is noise and fear and
the death of the Ancestors
in one dark shining moment
and it burns
like the death of a god-Emperor
it burns
like the end of an Empire
it burns us
it burns us all
but our death is cold
cold and hot
hot and cold together
like frigid flames
like frostbite
in the land
of the Rising Sun
Mikal Trimm’s short stories and poems have
appeared in numerous venues over the last few years. Recent or
forthcoming works may be found in Helix, Postscripts, Weird
Tales, Black Gate, and Interfictions, among others.
His novel The Greatest Freaking Book
Anyone Has Written EVER! is not forthcoming from any
publisher at any time in the future.
Visit his blog
here.
