#afterhours - Hello Poetry

Closing checklists are bridles. The door locks on a timer. Once, sweeping the parking lot, I found a pair of women’s black underwear, abandoned in the night. I had no story to lend them, or the weight of some metaphor. Just evidence left behind when someone kept moving. I keep moving. Let timers do their work. Past the skinny boy playing harmonica on the bridge, collecting tips in his shoe. The man, five paces west, jaw chewed raw, liquor stamped into his face like a punch clock about to roll midnight. I learned early what stays safest is sealed. Doors shut. Windows covered. In artificial light I did fine, my childhood room tight as a toolbox, from step-mother, father, and the extremes of their weather. I worked paper the way men work wire. Fold, crease, press flat. No guessing. Follow the lines even when they weren’t there. Angelfish. Swan. Dragonfly. Held their shape, once you taught them how. They stayed boxed under the bed, layered in dust, my childhood stored like spare parts waiting out a flood no one talked about until it passed. Out here nothing seals. The bridge holds. The world follows slow, just behind me. No walls to press against. Open water. Open air.

0

Feb 7

Feb 7, 2026 at 2:35 PM UTC

William-A-Gibson

End of Shift

Closing checklists are bridles. The door locks on a timer. Once, sweeping the parking lot, I found a pair of women’s black underwear, abandoned in the night. I had no story to lend them, or the weight of some metaphor. Just evidence left behind when someone kept moving. I keep moving. Let timers do their work. Past the skinny boy playing harmonica on the bridge, collecting tips in his shoe. The man, five paces west, jaw chewed raw, liquor stamped into his face like a punch clock about to roll midnight. I learned early what stays safest is sealed. Doors shut. Windows covered. In artificial light I did fine, my childhood room tight as a toolbox, from step-mother, father, and the extremes of their weather. I worked paper the way men work wire. Fold, crease, press flat. No guessing. Follow the lines even when they weren’t there. Angelfish. Swan. Dragonfly. Held their shape, once you taught them how. They stayed boxed under the bed, layered in dust, my childhood stored like spare parts waiting out a flood no one talked about until it passed. Out here nothing seals. The bridge holds. The world follows slow, just behind me. No walls to press against. Open water. Open air.

48

Where do you go when the soul levitates in space? Synths wash over me with godlike grace I say, my dimension is slow and reverbed With every problem, futsal shuffled to the curb I say, "it's so surreal" I want to gain a nursing shield Just to show my father it's real I know you're not around me But I still feel your presence still Some nights, I'm on an asteroid watching the stars Other nights, I'm frostbitten awaiting your warmth So, I ask you When does your soul leave the physical? I wanna know because you're supposed to see What I see

0

Apr 30, 2021

Apr 30, 2021 at 2:16 AM UTC

nocturnalstarboy

1:35am

Where do you go when the soul levitates in space? Synths wash over me with godlike grace I say, my dimension is slow and reverbed With every problem, futsal shuffled to the curb I say, "it's so surreal" I want to gain a nursing shield Just to show my father it's real I know you're not around me But I still feel your presence still Some nights, I'm on an asteroid watching the stars Other nights, I'm frostbitten awaiting your warmth So, I ask you When does your soul leave the physical? I wanna know because you're supposed to see What I see

15

Lightning struck the heart that you lived in My shields overwhelmed and vulnerable I endure states of emergencies, it's commendable Even though I bathe in original sin Sometimes, I feel I'm in the middle of the beginning It's like I and we haven't moved at all Headstrong, but I want you to catch me when I fall I never knew a greater power than complacency I strive to excel but it's nothing new to me Through the winter I've been caretaking But who can save me when I need saving? Lightning to the heart again What the **** is going on?

0

Apr 30, 2021

Apr 30, 2021 at 2:14 AM UTC

nocturnalstarboy

1:17am

Lightning struck the heart that you lived in My shields overwhelmed and vulnerable I endure states of emergencies, it's commendable Even though I bathe in original sin Sometimes, I feel I'm in the middle of the beginning It's like I and we haven't moved at all Headstrong, but I want you to catch me when I fall I never knew a greater power than complacency I strive to excel but it's nothing new to me Through the winter I've been caretaking But who can save me when I need saving? Lightning to the heart again What the **** is going on?

13

Set I You don't really call on me like you should Dial my line and I'll roll through your neighborhood We all have problems under this hemisphere But you persevere and smile so fierce I know your circle doesn't want smoke with me Because they trust we can go all the way He broke your trust, trust me, is all I say It's okay you need someone that's calm and patient Someone who's never okay being complacent Who's honest enough to check you in the wrong Does the armor on your skin belong? Won't you be my plug? You could be the one Like Summer Walker, start with a handshake And eventually, I'll need more than a hug Let's vent late at night with Pink Moscato wine Open up to me about these emotional crimes All that you're missing; this late night attention The best combination To feel empathy is ultimate satisfaction Communication is not meant for one side So, do what's best for your mind

0

Mar 20, 2019

Mar 20, 2019 at 11:49 AM UTC

nocturnalstarboy

Need

Set I You don't really call on me like you should Dial my line and I'll roll through your neighborhood We all have problems under this hemisphere But you persevere and smile so fierce I know your circle doesn't want smoke with me Because they trust we can go all the way He broke your trust, trust me, is all I say It's okay you need someone that's calm and patient Someone who's never okay being complacent Who's honest enough to check you in the wrong Does the armor on your skin belong? Won't you be my plug? You could be the one Like Summer Walker, start with a handshake And eventually, I'll need more than a hug Let's vent late at night with Pink Moscato wine Open up to me about these emotional crimes All that you're missing; this late night attention The best combination To feel empathy is ultimate satisfaction Communication is not meant for one side So, do what's best for your mind

23

That moment When her lips are your favourite lollipop And her skin tastes like ice cream melting in your tongue, The flavour drools godly juice. That moment when the rythm are two beating hearts, The winds outside take over And you take shelter sheltering her.

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Jun 11, 2017

Jun 11, 2017 at 2:36 PM UTC

david-da-cunha

After-hours after-beat, after the beats and moans

That moment When her lips are your favourite lollipop And her skin tastes like ice cream melting in your tongue, The flavour drools godly juice. That moment when the rythm are two beating hearts, The winds outside take over And you take shelter sheltering her.

7

I hate how I'm not doing anything with my life. I'm young and I should be having fun but instead I'm always sad and hating life. It gives me a sick feeling because I know one of these days I'll look back and think why the hell was I wasting my youth just moping around when I could have been enjoying life. I feel like I have no good memories to look back on but God forbid I can't stop feeling this way.

0

Mar 4, 2016

Mar 4, 2016 at 11:53 AM UTC

kellkaym

1:58 am

I hate how I'm not doing anything with my life. I'm young and I should be having fun but instead I'm always sad and hating life. It gives me a sick feeling because I know one of these days I'll look back and think why the hell was I wasting my youth just moping around when I could have been enjoying life. I feel like I have no good memories to look back on but God forbid I can't stop feeling this way.

1