Obscura

by Sabrina Cabrera Rivera

​Have you heard of this new contraption?

It’s on the rage!

​            It captures your image

                        Takes a little piece of your soul too.

            “A mini time machine!” they say.

            For the old broken mind of course.

​First breathe in

The crystal glass of lost memories

            Then swallow the sands of time

                       Take another shot.

            Get drunk off the single pause

​One look into her eyes

Get turned into stone

            The future goes on

                       Not a single goodbye

            The sound of

The grandfather clock echoes

In the empty space

Of a grand hotel.

Once upon a time

            Ladies wore gowns

                        That sparkled of stars at

The hem of their skirts.

Gentlemen wore a tie

                        To compliment their charm.

Endless music

Dances

Stolen kisses

countless affairs

Had evaporated

            To the dust on the windowsill

Preparing to be swept away

Another box in the attic.