THE LIGHTHOUSE
Christopher Pierce
It took ten tricks to get the lamp fire lit
shivering snowbank souls at the top of the stairs
consolation prizes huddled close humping against
four noble truths, attempting to rekindle a passion
The wife of the lighthouse keeper complains
books don't touch her anymore, swallowing
a cavemouth, Delphi's last words
absconding with blood-eagle lungs
I want to dance and live
not be locked up burning prophecies
In truth, the clock confided,
I too want to smash myself
join the lads down at the pub for a cold pint,
watch footie and have a throw of the darts.
I just want…
One night off, that's all the lighthouse man wants.
One night off. Maybe he could go to shore
find someone at a meet-cute
maybe he could get a pet
or plant a seed in a pot
to be his companion
his loneliness erodes at his lowest point
his pretenses careening, prunes and prisms
from every quarter the bitter sea brouhaha
stormy hurricanes thundersquall her name
buffeting and breaking, brumal
whitecaps upsurging, monstrous pale pincers
pounding amplitudes of orgiastic loss
shriftless he circles ascending the staircase
fights and flagellates himself,
forgetting in his melancholy
to light the beacon.
Outside, the rail tries to arrest
the tempestuous banshees shrieking
the wet waves of longing
just one night off, he thinks
before hitting the rocks.
In the darkness ships sink.
Author Bio
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Christopher Pierce is a writer from Dallas, Oregon. He graduated from Portland Community College in 2026 with a 4.0 and transferred to Oregon State University to pursue a double degree in creative writing and history. He is a husband and a proud father of two beautiful daughters, Destiny and Daenerys, whom he loves with all of his heart. His favorite pastime is hiking the Oregon backcountry in search of hiraeth, the Welsh word for the longing and homesickness for a place or time that no longer exists or never was. A pain-joy. He believes in empathy, embracing difficulty, doing the right thing, and fighting for a future for all living creatures. His writing is dedicated to his wife Brittany, his daughters, and to saving the world they will inherit.