Published on 02:44 PM, June 01, 2023

Upside Down world

Illustration: Syeda Afrin Tarannum

Hurt amasses under this soil like

Water under a willow tree.

Drain it all in for the rain to continue its

Cycle of ceaseless destruction.

The sun goes down every day when it's meant to be

Your legs are already five feet under

The ground

On the pavement beside the grocery store.

You wait beside the counter –

Warmth is a longing in cold milk packets,

Plastic wrappers of junk you've stored and text

Messages in brackets that remind you of love.

You will leave as happy as the day in which you came to be

Invisible you remain, stargazer.

Fahad is fascinated by the stargazer fish's camouflage and wishes to master the art himself. Send him texts that start with "Did you know?" at amfahad1747@gmail.com