Afraid Of The Dark

Poe is back with another poem, so Jesse joined in for a second installment of “Shel Silverstein for grown ups.”

Writing by Charlotte Amelia Poe
Art by Jesse Davis Karshner

afraid of the dark

cos baby the void is calling for you

steady as the wind and twice as loud

think you can tune it out but it’s like the pounding of blood in your ears

once you’ve noticed it, it’s only going to get louder

pretty little earthquake, natural disaster wrapped in 24k finery

said you’re allergic to anything less, like the gods built you better than the rest of us

all around you is the kind of chaos you only see on tv

and baby the way you’re smiling is like crocodile tears written truthfully

and here you stand, eye of the storm like a reckoning

so maybe you’re not wrong

goddamn, i mean, i’m watching the streetlights flicker in horror movie anticipation

throat dry like i can’t swallow clean anymore

my head is pounding, baby girl, you’re looking right through me

turn me inside out like i know you want to

apocalypse child you are so alive you make me want to die with it

can’t hold my breath can’t breathe my lungs are radio static

you raise your hand to my cheek and your touch feels like rapture

catharsis through belonging through this hopeless neverland wonderland halflife what is this?

if you kissed me i’d die, so kill me sweet

twenty questions to fall in love with the end of the world, girl

you’re halfway home and i’m halfway gone

and i can’t try for trying

endless nameless quickly now, run this tape out

annihilation is a sunset after a long day with nowhere to be.


About the Poet

Charlotte Amelia Poe (they/them) is an autistic nonbinary author from England. Their first book, How To Be Autistic, was published in 2019. Their debut novel, The Language Of Dead Flowers, was published in September 2022.


About the Artist

Jesse Davis Karshner is a California artist and a member of The Cream Scene Team, working in the Art Department.



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