The L-Bomb

Summer, 2002 / No. 8

Confused? So was he! In the latest dream the frames of his glasses

could be converted to a full-sized radiation helmet. He needed help

to see, help to lie down

through the night.

What was the L-bomb? The threat of it was real, though it would never

bulldoze mankind, rather it would manoeuvre him further and further

into mad wilderness, wilder

madness, trees that bare human hearts.

Planted in a hushed and tender place no one would suppose—

the girl at the bar reading Hugo, drinking wine. Her courteous

refusals, subtle dismissals,

going off, a blood storm, going off.