IN DARK PLACES

By John Grey

The wick is as reluctant to light

as the wax is to burn.

Darkness is such a natural state it seems,

even simple physics is reluctant

to upset its status quo.

You fiddle with the match.

I’m wondering should I try to help,

with gentle-fingers,

aid you in the striking.

But what if a great hand of blackness

appears out of nowhere

and slaps me down

for getting too fresh?’

Yes, it can be a risk

to go against the-deep, all-pervading code

of nothingness.

But the Big Bang did it.

Why not the little encouragement?

 

John Grey is an Australian poet, US resident. Recently published in the Homestead Review, Poetry East and Columbia Review with work upcoming in Harpur Palate, the Hawaii Review and North Dakota Quarterly.