At the Non-Telluric Bedside by Heath Brougher

An alien whose lungs are opened and exposed and unfurl when he takes in a breath then roll back up until the next breath is needed. He is dying. His hands are held down to let him suffer off to an eternal sleep or transformation of energy. Noisy protest. Noisy grotesque. There are no chains made of metal. Only the chains of human fingers allowing this injured being to move on in sentience into the Universe to somewhere it likely doesn’t know as home.

Heath Brougher lives in York, PA and attended Temple University. He recently finished his second chapbook, with two others on the way, as well as a full-length book of poetry. His work has appeared or is forthcoming in Yellow Chair Review, Of/with, Mobius, *Star 82 Review, BlazeVOX, Main Street Rag, Lotus-eater Magazine, Van Gogh’s Ear, Otoliths, Icebox Journal, Eunoia Review, Stray Branch, Diverse Voices Quarterly, Gloom Cupboard, MiPOesias, Third Wednesday, Inscape Literary Journal, and elsewhere.