Piker Press — Weekly Journal of Arts and Literature
April 27, 2026

The Odd One Out on Zertwil

"It’s a paler sun than I’m used to..."

The Odd One Out on Zertwil

It’s a paler sun than I’m used to
and not nearly as warm.

Without my suit,
I’d freeze to death
on contact with the air.

But the creatures
that inhabit this place
appear to thrive.

Their crops flourish.
Their domestic animals
appear to be as well-nourished
as any cow or sheep on Earth.

And the locals are given
to fluttering about
with rapturous faces,
dancing and singing
and laughing
for no apparent reason.

Meanwhile, I’m cocooned
with just enough oxygen and heat
to survive.

I’m like a grub.
And all around me…butterflies.







More by John Grey → More poetry → Full issue →
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