Susan Tepper is a widely published poet, and an accomplished playwright.

PULSING

~ Photo by Glenn Bowie

Under imaginary stars
all starlight gone missing
he sky a sweep
of black ceiling
under which you weep
Is it just a matter of time
When is the prescient
moment to drop
according to the stove clock
Is there actually a stove
with red numbers pulsing
You look out a window
covered in soot
and the next and
all the windows.
If there were stars
you could get a rag
cleaning off the black powder

— Susan Tepper