in the blackout

Strange things happen when the power goes out.

In the blackout

by s.c.virtes
---

in the mad moments
of a power-out clockflash
a stare fell on myself
and saw a blank space --
the light returned and brought me back
from the wild void of detachment;
far off the sky crumbled
and pieces fell to the earth;
things rooted to the ground
resisted the pull of aeons;
something newer and nearer collapsed
and darkness poured out from within,
while somewhere in the blackout world
the wind caught me and carried me home.

---
= written 7/86, published in New Word #2 (1986), Dark Windows #5 (10/07)