Thermometer

In a dark and forgotten place,

with no one to show the world’s warmth to.

Taken in by salty water

to tend spiny urchins in a tank.

Watched over by the few scientifically minded, but still

sort of lonely in sterile surroundings.

Unbidden, but gratefully, you traveled,

stolen during dusk, taken

from the murky closet to the brightly cluttered desk.

Into the still water,

The distilled water:

No life that you could sense, seemingly worse off.

Bumped by other needled creatures

often moved, by grabbing hands

with darkly rimmed, peeping eyes.

And still you kept the temperature: 24°C,

constant.

After it hatched, also alone.

Growing bigger and bigger every day

because she Fed him, Watched him, Obsessed over him.

More peering eyes and groping fingers

watched you too,

to see if you would continue to remain

Constant.