LOWER THE LIGHTS

BY AARON GROVER

The NEAR and FAR cards were printed by Cumbersome Multiples Press on a 1928 Chandler & Price letterpress using antique wooden type. PonyXpress writers wrote a response to the word on the cover. The cards were passed to the next writers and they used the prompt to write on the back.

Lower the lights
Can’t you see
We are the dark
We are hopes lost

Lower the lights
Your radiance slay us
Is it not enough?
You push us to the fringe
That you illuminate our sins

Lower the lights
Given unto us this heavy burden
Life’s unwanted, broken
And discarded.

Lower the lights
For every mirror a daylight glimmer
Tears rain down in endless waves
Can’t you see
We are the dark
We are the reflection, Distorted. | AG