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By Landon Stimson

 

Despair

Revelation

What is it like to speak and always be

Heard?

I roll over in bed into the darkness in my head

Flashing images shown to me

Of a ghostly hand brushing mine,

Forcing carbon steel through soft flesh.

Where there was life now there is not.

I sift through old photographs

Searching for my face

But it is unrecognizable,

A scant smile not yet broken in.

Was it really mine?

The clock melts on the wall as I ooze to the floor,

Buckled knees kissing carpet.

My stomach whispers what I can’t

To the empty room

And I can’t help but

Vanish.

 

 

 

Landon’s Bio: 

My name is Landon Stimson, and I’m currently a student in the School of Arts and Sciences as an English major and a double minor in Turkish and Creative Writing. I grew up in Springfield, Virginia, a liberal CDP right outside of D.C., as an only child. I’ve always loved interpreting my characters’ stories and exploring their psychology and how they view the world. People and the human mind fascinate me, and this is definitely reflected in my writing, which often features dysfunctional relationships and the strain those relationships put on the people in them. I was also recently elected President of Transmissions, a student org on campus, which I’m very excited about, and I’m attempting to start my own Paranormal Club at Rutgers as well! A couple of other fun facts: I have two pet mice, Caramel and Cookie, and I love watching films (I grew up on Classical Hollywood movies). More on the subject of my poem: I’ve been dealing with depression and anxiety for eight years now, and while it can be difficult to write even when I want to, I try to express my emotions and experiences as accurately as possible, while making my work accessible to others, so they can also understand the feelings captured in the poem. I love to write, and if I can help people feel less alone through that writing or help them discover more about themselves, then I’d be satisfied!

Landon wrote this poem for his poetry class taught by Susan Miller, who selected the piece for publication as a WHR featured poem.