UNDER COVER

By Harvey Aberin 

 

 

 

Have you ever seen the moon change shape? 

 

And I don’t mean those waxing, 

waning crescent moons. 

I mean those blood red moons twisting, 

Tingling with malice, 

Its vicious glow shifting every mood, 

Rumbling the blood, foaming the mouth. 

A menacing mirror that mocks the mighty, 

It hangs in that nothing, 

That graveyard of uncoupled dreams 

where gods and stars come to die. 

 

They say if you stare too long 

It manifests your madness 

A meticulously manicured version of me 

Except its neck is mangled, 

Twisted to the side, 

A scrap of rotten muscle. 

If you listen closely you can hear its mania 

Even in the searing haze of the sun 

A symphony of sounds burrowing in the ears, 

Grabbing hold, and screaming 

 

I am here. 

 

But like every good prisoner 

You wait for the hand  

of a dead god to feed you. 

You turn up the white noise, 

Pull the thread of lies above your head, 

and wrap it tightly around your neck. 

Feel your breath stutter, 

watch the moon crack and mend 

as your sight fades 

and drift.  

 

 

Harvey’s Bio: 

Harvey is studying English with a minor in Creative Writing. He was born in Manila, Philippines, but now lives in Iselin, New Jersey. Harvey is from a bilingual household, conversing in both his native Tagalog and English at home and with friends.