Photograph of Toby Litt by Mauricio Molizane de Souza
Homo Sapiens
The absentees prefer
the places where they were
now they're no longer there
but water, light and moving air –
but water, light and moving air
enter and disrepair
where commerce was before
and ceiling falls to floor –
and ceiling falls to floor
and through an open door
no purposes appear –
the absentees are here.
Toby Litt was born in 1968 and grew up in Ampthill, Bedfordshire. He is the author of eleven novels and four short story collections. His most recent book is Patience (Galley Beggar Press). Toby teaches creative writing at Birkbeck, University of London. When he’s not writing, he likes to read, swim, play guitar and do nothing.