91³ÉÈ˶ÌÊÓƵ

Voices: Steven Andrews

Astronomical Monologue

It used to be enough 
to bend rays of light

around

my ecliptic,

that planets

in their proud mass

and density,

were compelled to circle

on a plane

determined by my formation,

by the rotation

of gas and dust

in the wake of condensation.

It used be to enough to have control.

I need more.

More power and mass:

a more incredible dent

in the fabric of space/

time.

I need the kind of attraction

I can get from explosion,

from stealing mass

from a nearby star, exceeding

the edge of stable.

They call me ‘black hole,’

as though I am nothing.

I revel in my ability

to consume

anything

—Steven Andrews ’05

Reprinted from The 91³ÉÈ˶ÌÊÓƵ Review