No “I” in “Void”
︎︎︎ JM Barsley
︎ June 28, 2026
No I in "void."
Though some of us object
And say it's there—third letter there along—
Right there—as plain as day.
Plain as the dot that hovers on the i—
The I in void.
Thing is of course it's not properly an I—
Not anyways when's said.
The I
Gets sucked into the vortex of the O
Preceding just a little bit before.
Or maybe—just takes precedence—for after all
They talk as one. One answer to the lips
Burring tremulous uncertain on the v—
One vowel voiced; one diphthong birthed;
Black creature of the throaty deep, that groans
And gushes through the gutter of the tongue
Jaws slackening their sluicing gates and on—
To stop at d.
Checked sudden at the click-
Tongued palate on the tip—
Quick click, that tongues the torrent to an end.
No I in "void."
That seeming "i" deceives
Such men as live by sight alone
Whose vision blindly stumbles on the deep
Affinities unspoken by the eye.
Though some of us object
And say it's there—third letter there along—
Right there—as plain as day.
Plain as the dot that hovers on the i—
The I in void.
Thing is of course it's not properly an I—
Not anyways when's said.
The I
Gets sucked into the vortex of the O
Preceding just a little bit before.
Or maybe—just takes precedence—for after all
They talk as one. One answer to the lips
Burring tremulous uncertain on the v—
One vowel voiced; one diphthong birthed;
Black creature of the throaty deep, that groans
And gushes through the gutter of the tongue
Jaws slackening their sluicing gates and on—
To stop at d.
Checked sudden at the click-
Tongued palate on the tip—
Quick click, that tongues the torrent to an end.
No I in "void."
That seeming "i" deceives
Such men as live by sight alone
Whose vision blindly stumbles on the deep
Affinities unspoken by the eye.