I Saw A Light Bulb Flickering
by Nathan Taylor
I saw a light bulb flickering;
blinking on and off and it illuminated
the old posters, ripped and torn;
flapping in the breeze like damp sails
The light reflected on a shard of broken glass
and for an instant it was a shining portal;
a gateway to ascension;
a window to the unknown.
But the light kept flickering
On and off and on and off.
A single sentry guarding
against the darkness; losing
Like the beating of a heart it flickered
unable to stop, on and off.
Then it sprung to glorious life
and the alley was bathed in gold.
That triumphant brightness!
That triumphant brightness!
Too much for that small bulb
as it swelled with light
The glass, bulging like an overflowing bladder,
Tried desperately to carry it's load
but reaching its limit,
the bulb burst and the light was gone
Cracked and shattered, it was free of its burden.
"Too much" it had cried.
Between life and death
it had chosen self-sacrifice.
I picked up the shards of the bulb
and held them in my hand.
This little bulb,
who tried so hard and failed,
who wanted to shine, and did
for a fleeting moment
then, realising his inability to shine
destroyed himself
How could another bulb take up his post,
to shine and shine and shine
And try not to fade or flicker
like his long lost brother.
I dropped the shards
and turned
washing my hands of the destruction
and walked away in darkness.
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