Torch
written by: Nigel de Costa
It’s her torch.
A small, black, metal tube,
with a red, rubber grip.
It fits neatly in my hand,
easy to hold.
Functional.
In my hurry, I knocked it off the table
and now it won’t come on.
I twist off the bulb holder,
pull out the LED,
a fly’s composite eye,
fifty small beads,
opaline and yellow,
all intact.
I unscrew the handle,
remove the power cell,
rotate the batteries,
line up the lettering,
put everything back,
tighten it up, again.
Click: on, off, on.
Non-functional.
I set it down,
stare at it,
if I leave it perhaps,
somehow over time,
it will start to work.
But I know it won’t.
Nigel de Costa
I am a new poet living in Watford, UK with my three children.
Latest posts by Nigel de Costa (see all)
- Your Scent - March 26, 2022
- Torch - January 19, 2022
- Spotlight On Writers – Nigel de Costa - December 25, 2021