Those Who Seek Galaxies Do Not See What's In Front Of Them*

I can see them now, deep brown, rich chocolate swirled in an effervescence of golden delicate honey liquid tones the two black dots float daintily, static, in the pools of my universe.

No one will see them now, the shutters are now permanently locked, immovable, swallowing the key as the quiet throes of your last breath exhale, whilst still warm my universe is cold, clouded, colourless.

You saw them staring back at you, once deep a deep brown rich chocolate, now diluted by a flood that clouds your gaze, in a haze, the stars of our galaxy began to fall wetting both our cheeks, although not in the same moment as those cold tears. Cold blade. A razor. An end. You began to fade

If only I had really seen them if only I had opened my eyes and understood what was behind yours.

*people who seek galaxies fail to see what's in front of them. Paraphrasing a quote by an unknown author suggests making sure you appreciate what is informed of you rather than wanting too much.

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This piece is a part of a tribute to Exeter student Jaz Kenny. As well as featured online, this tribute will be published in the upcoming print journal.

‘It is a privilege to teach first year students in their first term – to be part of a time of discovery, excitement, and flowering. One student who began her degree in English and Creative writing in 2021, and who was full of promise and imagination, was Jaz Kenny. It was a terrible shock to all of us when we learned that she had died, suddenly, from medical complications, just a few weeks into her time as a student at Exeter. As convenor and lecturer on the introductory Creative Writing module, Write After Reading, I wasn’t lucky enough to get to know Jaz personally; but many of her fellow students were, and so was her seminar tutor, and her death touched all of us deeply. To honour Jaz’s passion for creative writing, her fellow first year Creative Writing students decided to produce a collection of creative tributes to her. Those tributes, together with three of Jaz’s own poems that she composed as part of her course, are included in this special issue, published with love and care by the wonderful team at Enigma Journal. Jaz, and your family, this is for you.’

Ellen Wiles, Lecturer in Creative Writing