Vertical Life Ebbing

BY Will Conway
Posted 7/26/19

Plastic cup in hand, he inverts it. Slow, with intent, he eyes the buzzing, crazed housefly press and dance across window pane. Not understanding, it settles in fatigue of batting wings. Just so, cup …

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Vertical Life Ebbing

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Plastic cup in hand, he inverts it.
Slow, with intent, he eyes the buzzing, crazed housefly
press and dance across window pane.
Not understanding, it settles in fatigue of batting wings.
Just so, cup rim clasps to glass in capture.
Slip of paper slides between lip and translucence.
Lifting away, stunned weary creature acquiesces.
A walk to the door, upturned vessel is uncovered.
Seeming hesitant, fly climbs, steps to edge, washes face.
Considering the air for a moment, it chooses liberation.

She grew up on the lower eastside of Manhattan,
where every kind of bug was killed.
She reminds him, all those years ago, when
I saw you saving bugs. It’s why
I fell in love with you.

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