Suzanne Verrall

The Shape Of A Universe

while I was incarcerated
for a crime I did not commit
I enrolled in a correspondence course
and became an origami master
when my yearning for release
was great enough to consume me
and I became so small
I could be filled by just one thing
I fashioned the tiniest
working ship in the world
out of a postage stamp
and sailed away
across the seven waters
I met countless escapees
a flotilla of well-lit liners
dancing like pin heads
which I joined naturally
bobbing about waiting
for condensation to lift us
up into the stars

Suzanne Verrall lives in Adelaide, Australia. Her flash fiction, essays and poetry appear in various publications including The Interpreter’s House, Australian Poetry Journal and the Southampton Review. For links to her work go to www.suzanneverrall.com.