Richard WheelockThe fly is an old grandmother
settled down on a laptop screen
lulled by this electric heaven
she forsakes all shadows beyond it
the salmon-scent from the sink,
black dog pawing on glass door
unwelcome reach of a hand
collapsing screen into keyboard
the hum of two ceiling fans
cutting through a soft dark heat.
Richie Wheelock is a junior Writing, Literature, & Publishing student at Emerson College. He spent his summer killing flies and teaching kids. Find him in the Common this fall watching dogs play fetch.