"the glimmer"

or consider your father’s suicide from

the safety of 25 years away

set your own failures against his

sleep through december

through january and february

take whatever pills you can find

burn whatever you need to keep warm and

then wake up lost on the morning the

flood finally creeps into your house

look for your youngest son

but his room is empty

answer the phone with the

proper amount of fear in your voice

always these goddamned ghosts on the

other end of the line

laughing at the bloodsoaked mess

your life has become

john sweet, b 1968, still numbered among the living. A believer in writing as catharsis. Opposed to all organized religion and political parties. His latest collections include HEATHEN TONGUE (2018 Kendra Steiner Editions) and A BASTARD CHILD IN THE KINGDOM OF NIL (2018 Analog Submission Press). All pertinent facts about his life are buried somewhere in his writing.