by Souvankham Thammavongsa
What had once been many shades of sun
and cloud and what we had predicted to have
a chance of is now. The face looking at us is
an outline floating in with two eyes and
a mouth. This face could be ours looking back
from some past we’re going toward or just an
expression trying to keep us out. Whatever it is
does not matter. Wanting to live does. If
it is saying something we can’t stop for it. If it is
reporting the future and says what’s happened
sew it shut and anchor it to sink and to stay sunk.
We were going before anyone could call us gone.
Souvankham Thammavongsa's fourth poetry collection Cluster is forthcoming from M&S in 2019.
