CLEAR
by Emily Zuberec
Note from the editors: we recommend reading this page on a tablet, on a computer, or in landscape orientation on mobile in order to view the piece’s format as intended by the poet.
dried pages flip through
to shift thigh
as night cracks into morning
the colour of flax seed
on the windowsill
being disturbed in sleep
not finishing the dream
feeling tired in that way
in the after hours
are dimmed
around quietly so as not to disturb
symmetry breaks it makes a sound
go back inside
and again the book is open
or maybe nothing was read
the moon persists
of a chamber persists
in the book people are talking
looking to be soothed
the book is put down
when emerging into a strong light
the contemplative order of the dust
the feeling of streetlight pressing down
right there the nice one with heavy boughs
to all who desire
across the face of the clock
early to sleep
of luck that began with
swollen like a tick
sitting on the back porch feels like
that is spoken of
out of the alley
to bear the moon at the end of a day
to smell like a puddle
someone is making up images
someone is saying words
thumb shoved between
for a passage about how it feels
off stomach
and dust
begins to gather
didn’t used to mind
didn’t used to mind
to return through the ice
what about the activities
when bedside lamps
and furniture is moved
sometimes when the
then there’s nothing to see
then it’s night
the wrong page
it’s hard to say why
and this feeling like the inside
nothing begins in dryness
a night walk to the corner store
then they’re back inside
there’s nothing new
from a dark background
as it builds upon itself
on the branches of that tree
night is equally available
skip a stone
and it would still be too
in the book there’s crisis
confession
the power is out
it could be the country
a semi-trailer truck turns
the book is on the floor
it’s all beginning
in the book or in dream
of being outside the city
ABOUT THE CREATOR
Emily Zuberec is a writer living in Tiohtià:ke/Montréal. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in Peach Mag, Afternoon Projects Gallery in Vancouver, April April Gallery in New York City, Pumice Raft in Toronto, Public Parking, Headlight Anthology, and Metatron Press. She is the founder and managing editor of Commo Magazine (@commo.mag).