it’s not a black dog
that howls and whines
it’s not a dark weed
that rises and binds
it’s not a grim mask
a scream, or a skeleton
it’s not an odd dance
or a glum-looking elephant
it’s not a low cloud
that rains on your bed
or a stream of squiggles
that wriggles from your head

no – it’s much less graphically cute than that
that void you’ve been keeping under your hat

is you