by Sophia Falber
The nukes whisper sweet nothings
into each other’s ears.
But what will they do,
when they realize
Power is the mistress of them both?
If I can’t have you, no one else can.
Mutually assured destruction.
Civilization is just a stage
for their epic love story.
Romeo and Juliet pale in comparison.
Humanity are just actors in their play,
dutifully playing their parts
convinced they clasp the pen
that writes this tragedy.
All so they can sleep soundly
underneath flags that snuff
the brilliant light of the sun and the sky.
I’ll tell you how to survive,
play the role you’re assigned.
And at night, when you fear gunmen
hide your head underneath your pillows
and shut your eyes.
Surely, bullets can’t travel through cotton.
Sophia Falber is interested in all the weird and wonderful ways words work, regardless of the medium. Sophia's writing focuses on everything from the commonplace to the macabre and the absurd. Her writing has appeared in Hawai'i Pacific Review, Quibble Review, and Aster Lit. Sophia is editor-in-chief of FLARE: The Flagler Review. To get updates on Sophia's writing journey follow her Instagram @sophiajfalber