Our Gentle Alchemy
The world is a rough place.
“Your mother raised a gentle flower,” she said.
I know this much is true.
I am a fragile thing.
The world is a rough place,
And the slightest breeze bends my stem to the ground.
.
Existence is a belt-sander.
I disappear as I proceed,
The treadmill eating me from the feet up,
Until I am but a raw nerve, massless as a photon.
Tumbling along, out of control.
.
The regularly scheduled programming
Of TV static across my frontal lobe
Resolves into dreams,
But the ending is always a cliffhanger,
And there’s never a next episode.
.
The world is a rough place.
I can be smooth long enough to get what I need, but
I am quicksand,
Sinking into myself,
Past all the skeletons of the past.
.
I turn over stones in the desert, searching for sustenance, but uncovering only scorpions.
Steinbeck taught me to put Vaseline in my gloves,
And my long-idle, smooth hands are well suited for the task.
I am what I eat.
.
You are quicksilver smooth, the most effortlessly charming entity I have ever encountered.
I trace the trade-routes of your nervous system down your spine,
In awe of the circuitry that manifests the workings of your magnificent philosopher’s mind
Into inscrutable, dazzling action.
I long to be like you.
.
Blessedly, you allow it.
The world is a rough place, but smooths, guided by your patience in the presence of our gentle alchemy.
We stretch each moment into eons,
Our laughter a windbreak in the sandstorm.
I am truly nourished.
.
I wake far from the desert,
Alone in the vast, inky blackness of interstellar space.
My craft a teardrop of smooth mercury,
Racing, faster-than-light, across impossible distances,
But I am not afraid.
About the Creator
J. Otis Haas
Space Case
Enjoyed the story? Support the Creator.
Subscribe for free to receive all their stories in your feed. You could also pledge your support or give them a one-off tip, letting them know you appreciate their work.
Comments (8)
I liked the contrast between smooth and rough – really brought the piece to life. Your reference to the belt sander was spot on.
Beautiful.
This is simply gorgeous. Congrats.
Congrats! Loved the opening dialogue!
Loved this!
Very nice imagery. Thank you.
Ahh, very smooth indeed! Super nice!!
short but loved reading it