When the word was made,
There was nothing.
One thing was made, then another.
The had many sisters and brothers.
Over time, they grew,
Into me and you.
We survived off the water,
from which we were born,
Until the 7 deadly storms.
They killed the ones who didn't survive,
and left the survivors still alive.
Now we are here,
me, and you
Turning the world back to nothing.

tulip
in its root is
every root

On the other side of the Earth
Is a dream where

I want nothing
I need nothing
I am nothing

I remember this

the moon on the night we drive north toward Miami
our secrets overflowing onto the dashboard
between the white moon and black ocean emerges
my destiny this moment this motion

a door creaks open creaks closed in the woods
a threshold is offered for us to step through
I look to the tree tops and you follow suit
how beautiful you are
allowing yourself to fill

desire stands con terquedad
I felt what you meant before you arrived

parched earth whining for
single droplet of water -
crimson sun blazing.

flush of anger drive
the trifling clouds to hideout -
lone sun ruling sky.

Smelling money
reach out to the stars.
Knowing why
they gaze down though
upon the deep dark earth
need to be richer
than material matters!

who really knows
who really understands
how is it true
or not
does the homeless person know what time it is
did the ant you stepped on feel anything
the sunset shared by millions across the globe, was it appreciated
was it valued
desert winds, stirring up the ancient sands, is it admired
is it honored
waters in the clouds, falling with raw force to the earth, is it glorified
is it
how do you know
how do you know

Brian Hill - 2020 # 168

The world-ended
And all we are in now is a bitter afterlife.
We are dead,
Made to believe we are alive .
Living this life ,
Thinking about another afterlife.
An eternal torture in store,
Making us live our sadness again.
This earth is like a whole planet dedicated to pain,
Or maybe God giving us a chance to reach heaven again.
Sadly all I see of humanity now ,
Are small remains,
Suppressed , the devil reigns.
God, you look from above ,
You see us fall.
Are you punishing us,
By making us think like there's still a way .
Or are we just like the act of humanity,
Small remains.
Forsaken by thee,
Now the devil takes charge.
If this isn't a punishment,
Show us some mercy.
We wait.
We wait.
Gunnika Mehra

Blood for ink
As I seal your fate
A deadly pandemic
Will lead you astray
Bullets and politics
Won’t prevail
The strongest survive
While the weaklings fade.

Slowly but surely
I’ll take back what’s mine
Two thousand years
And a thousand designs
For vengeance, for justice,
Cold and cruel
A mother’s justice
Tough love- fuelled.

Warnings were spurned
Not once or twice
Greed and Envy
Took root in a trice
Beware, beware,
I surmise
That our cries and sighs
Will be our final goodbyes.