top of page
  • Writer's pictureJohn Thomas Pinkston

Atlas

Early one fall morning

when no one was looking

I launched my own satellite

right out of the backyard


watched it go straight up- felt the big boom as it broke free and arced westward- on its way

watched until it was a little star, moving fast- stable orbit


the kids down the street waiting on the bus loved it- wanted me to do it again

I yelled back it was a oner and to have a good day at school


now don’t be jealous

you can borrow my satellite anytime

I barely use it

hell- nobody's paying attention- launch your own

and like I said, feel free to use mine

but I’m telling you- you can see some shit from way up there…


actually- I was grilling chicken

but it was seven thirty on a beautiful morning

and the great thing about a grill fire

other than hot grilled food

is you can’t leave it

so I was indulging in my surroundings

and it’s just fun to imagine life at Cape Canaveral.

Related Posts

See All

A block of ice rests like a sleeping beast within my chest cavity, reeling. It froze over slowly and threatened to break under fingers that split me like ice skates. A thick knock against an iron gate

There is a theory from mankind that multiple universes exist; that with every thought we make, we create entire worlds; that we have lived every life in existence. Oh, what a comfort this is. To know

Every year we fly through the sky to Minneapolis, my parents and I. We watch the baggage claim belt spin round and round like the tire of an overturned tank. I wait for our black bag to win the wrestl

bottom of page