it was
under that withering gaze
it seemed
all of the residents
around the world
took a collective moment
to stare
in absolute panic
at the unblinking orb

almost as if

it was the first
end of the world
any of them
had ever experienced

it wasn’t

not by a long stretch

but it was
the first
end of the world
that they were all
as one cohesive unti
aware of

it seems
like a small task
to allow them all
a few seconds
to collectively lose
their minds

it’s only fair
really

a small boon
in the momentary quiet
before things
go from odd

to worse