Carl Sagan Says



A Bunsen Burner removed my eyebrow
In fourth form science
To this day, there's a corner
That never grows back

Carl Sagan says
Matter is composed
Chiefly of nothing
The universe is cold and empty
And wants to kill you

This morning
A person I'd never met
Picked me a straggly
Bunch of flowers
To give to my friend
For their birthday

Carl Sagan says
Matter is composed
Chiefly of nothing
The universe is cold and empty
And wants to kill you

I hugged another human
Briefly transgressing
The local laws
It was sunshiny and novel
I could feel my
Empty spaces closing in

Carl Sagan says
Matter is composed
Chiefly of nothing
The universe is cold
And wants to kill you
Unless it wants to make you
Over and over

~ Brendan Bonsack 2025