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the world ends with a whimper

the world ends with a whimper—            no one screams

no bombs go off, oceans don’t boil         but they will one day


you’re by a window                                   eyes reflecting glass

quiet and alone                                          glass reflecting eyes


as you fill in the map                                 consult your cracked compass

and file your teeth                                     with razor-sharp shards


appealing with wired words                      coiled around malediction

sealed with analog agency                        etched in arcana


when someone sees                                  no one understands

they’ll care until they don’t                       and never will again


the world ends with a whimper—             go back to what you were doing

you are you and I am me                           like before you started this poem

Nicholas De Marino is a neurodivergent writer of fiction, non-fiction, not fiction, un-fiction, and semi-fiction. He has several writing credits, degrees, and accolades that have nothing to do with cats. Read more at nicholasdemarino.com.

Ninja Jo artwork for Radon Journal Issue 9
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