T. E. Niemi is a versatile writer residing in New Hampshire, with a passion for screenplays, short stories, and poetry. Niemi’s work has appeared in a variety of literary publications, including The Galway Review, Confingo Magazine, Spectrum, and Inkfish Magazine, showcasing a talent for capturing depth and emotion in concise, evocative language. Recently, Niemi published his poetry chapbook, At Night and Other Poems, with Bottlecap Press in Los Angeles, California. His writing often explores themes of human connection, nature, and the complexities of inner life. With a growing presence in the literary world, Niemi continues to craft work that resonates with readers on both a personal and universal level.

The Living and the Dead

Last month my great-aunt claimed that my eyes
have the same haunted look her brother’s
eyes had just before he took his own
life after his wife died of cancer.

Two weeks ago, when I ran into
my cousin and we shook hands, he said
my calloused hands, now sporting their first
age spots, resembled his late father’s.

Yesterday my sister suggested
that I should try to smile more often,
because my smile makes her think of our
mother, who was beautiful and kind.

And today my daughter surprised me
with a call from California,
and the first thing she told me was that
I sound just like her grandpa used to.

I know I should appreciate these
familial comparisons, but
at times I find it disconcerting
to remind so many of the dead.

To One Troubled by Current Events

… And learn, if you can,
to take comfort in
the obliterating power
of Time. Find consolation
in thoughts of the far future,
a thousand years from now,
when all of this,
when all of us,
will merely be
memories
in the mind
of God.