They navigate through the hems of his spine
hovering over his etching.
Shadows croon above him
flitter and he shudders mechanically.
They whisper in his ear, the shadow bursting like pyromatic speech bubble:
We are all cold water
he’s disillusioned.
We are all night’s fallen
the shadow’s pinpricks tickle.
Why try at all? Dark callin’
he doesn’t listen, and hums out until the static fills the room.
the shadows crack,
—I got to meet every star—planet…
the light swings, falls,
—Even when you were sad…you were really happy
he no longer hums, but sings
his hems breaking the seams—
“Be still now, broken bones…”
he’s yelling. the static continues.
--and became the same
the record breaks, phone dial
the record’s on repeat
silence…static…
we became the same
we became the same
we became the same
he tosses the last of the song behind him, and it shatters on a wall.
the room collapses.