Nictitate Poem by Matthew English

My head hurts.
This burden i carry- just a toll on my mind.
I blink harder- 1,2,3.
The harder i blink the more i see.
But then, its black…
until i blink again- 1,2,3.
That light shining bright, shooting across my mind,
puts my hairs on edge, lifts my heart.
This all happens in the brief hundred milliseconds my eyes are closed.
I reach out as i blink- 1,2,3.
Your bright eyes, lips and smile- all i want to see.
I wish each blink was like a camera shutter
to capture an image of you that i can see,
forever and hold. Like an imprint in my subconscious.
Again i blink- 1,2,3…
only to open my eyes to yours simultaneously.