On highways, one ways and runways
People appearing in the same place
as five years before
Into thin air, into sea
Climber undusting upon a mountain
that’s eroded microscopically
Missing his foothold
plummeting soundlessly

Babies returning screaming in fright
Their parents moved on
Divorced
Could no longer stand the sight
of each other
and the empty crib

Spouses rematerializing in the marital bed
Replaced, removed,
now reduced to third wheel
witnessing the upgrade
mad in their stead

Sporting events and concerts
disrupted too
One moment to the next
That fly ball is gone
No axe left to grind

Imagine all building work
was suspended
for five years
It’ll still suck for the people
in that helicopter though

Am I wrong to assume
that populations
across the universe returned
to possibly compromised
situations?

How many returned
only to face a new
more horrifying death?
How many families
quaked in hope,
only to grieve again?

Did the Avengers really think this through?

Evened the odds
when they resurrected Gods
but with all your genius IQs
Did you stop to think if you should?

Or did you take the necessary precautions
Ensure complete victory as we all assume?

I cheer and I cry
when the Portals open
Now I’ll be thinking of
all those poor fuckers
falling from the sky.

Scott Cumming enjoys reading too much to consider himself a proper writer. He resides in Aberdeen with his partner and two sons. Catch up with all his misdemeanours on Twitter @tummidge