in this new world of recycled days and nights
lone star-gazing at the bottom of the garden
video calls that hurt more than heal
steins worryingly never empty
navigating this treacle-slow inertia
as bugs trapped in a jam jar might
while summer leers through the glass
a church bell tolls
on the hour – to remind us there are hours
and not a moment too soon, for time was in peril
of being forgotten in the minds of the people
the very fact of it consigned to oblivion
like an old pagan god
………….
Kevin McGowan is a writer based in Stirling, Scotland. He has been published in: Fiction on the Web, Literally Stories, Inklings Anthology (Stryvling Press), Peeking Cat Poetry, Eunoia Review, and Bandit Fiction, with work forthcoming via Dreich Magazine, Clementine Unbound, and Plum Tree Tavern. His short story, ‘God’s Shoulder’, was awarded Stirling University’s Research-Based Learning Prize. He holds an MLitt in Creative Writing and also manages submissions for Ringwood Publishing.