The Density of Negative Space
written by: David Estringel
feather bed
nappin’
under the crisp
of a sun-dried sheet
pillow
flattened
by an all-too-heavy head
wall mirror hangs
waitin’
for some common
cordiality
jeans
air dryin’
back a rickety chair
that creaks
n moans
under its own weight
lonely nightstand
yawns—
bored—
with its book
Maybe it ends different this time
stark walls
ache
for touch
wantin’ for a good nailin’…
or two
shoes
always outside the door
pinin’
couple o’ work shirts
closet-waltz to
the polite
tune
of a ceiling fan
while window sulks
in the corner
at teases from
shoddy curtains
Steppin’ forward
to let light in
my bones shatter—
ev’ry step—
‘top floorboards
under gravity
of this spartan
crush
atoms
dissipating
obliterating
at the speed of whi te n o i s e
David Estringel is a Xicanx writer, Professor of English, and EIC at The Argyle Literary Magazine and Blood+Honey with words at The Opiate, Cowboy Jamboree, Dreich, Mythic Picnic, Literary Heist, Street Cake, The Milk House, BULL, The Hooghly Review, Drunk Monkeys, The Daily Drunk, and The Honest Ulsterman. David has published seven poetry/hybrid collections, six poetry chapbooks, and one co-authored novel Escaping Emily through Thirty West Publishing House.
Latest posts by David Estringel (see all)
- The Density of Negative Space - September 29, 2026
- Dirty Back Road - July 6, 2026
- Anatomy of a Poet, or This Old House - April 3, 2026
