What Happens for the Eclipse To Happen

by Mayen Agier

my niblings have this blind faith in me.

they believe i have all the answers

to their infinite questions.

after learning about the eclipse

on aljazeera last week,

they have been, one after the other,

untiringly frustrating me

to explain to them what happens

for the eclipse to happen.

uncle, can you explain what happens for the eclipse to happen?

"uncle, can you explain what happens for the eclipse to…

uncle, can you explain what happens for the eclipse…

uncle, can you explain what happens for the…

uncle, can you explain what happens…

uncle, can you explain what…

uncle, can you explain…

uncle, can you…

uncle, can…

uncle,…

unc…"

irked (somewhat), i screamed:

"children, i know not what happens

for the eclipse to happen

but i think it is when the sun can no longer bear

to witness these vile brutalities

we visits upon each other in this cold world

& for a while, decides to look away..."