The End of Everything

It won’t all fade so quickly,

Like a lightbulb you forgot to change

Or the gradual sadness that sets in

After an empty room is enveloped in darkness-

It’ll linger, as if it’s still there,

Like the knot in your throat

That threatens to undo itself

Every time you open your mouth,

So don’t speak.

Don’t make a noise, even if

There are millions of tea kettles still whistling inside you,

Even if you are trapped in a burning house,

Just let it happen.

You know it has to,

But you never know when,

Or why.

When it’s time to let go,

You will see the roses begin to wilt,

And you won’t think, “it’s winter now,”

You’ll think, “this is the end of everything.”

And it will be,

Just for that one moment.

Everything will start to change.

The whistling will grow silent.

The boiling tea has evaporated.

The lightbulbs are covered in dust.

The houses you built are condemned,

Every window broken,

It’s gone,

You knew it would be,

But it hurts just the same.

You will think,

“This is how it feels to be disappointed in the entire universe.”