Illustration by Arushi Gupta
Though the rain had stopped hours ago,
the world was still hushed
by its rage.
Birds had yet to sing again,
or take flight,
cars passing hesitatingly on the road across
from our waterlogged home
failed to break the heaviness
of the air,
the noise of their engines
falling to the wet grass
before reaching our ears.
Even children failed
to dance in the abundant puddles,
their parents clutching
their tiny hands,
faces dark, tight.
It was as though
the end of the world
the rain had hinted at
had finally arrived
and all of us who would witness it
would do so quietly,
and in awe.
About the Author
Edward Lee‘s poetry, short stories, non-fiction and photography have been published in magazines in Ireland, England and America, including The Stinging Fly, Skylight 47, Acumen and Smiths Knoll. His debut poetry collection “Playing Poohsticks On Ha’Penny Bridge” was published in 2010. He is currently working towards a second collection.
About the Illustrator
Arushi Gupta is a 22-year-old alien studying to be a dentist in Chandigarh. She is
a die-hard otaku and wishes to go to Japan soon. You can find her singing Japanese songs, making some artsy concoction or taking weird photographs in the streets of Chandigarh.
You can find her works here.
Downfall is part of the weekly poem publications from the literary collection The Machinery. You can submit your poetry and fiction here.
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