Allisynn Bengel
PennWest Edinboro
Eyes of Earth
PennWest Edinboro
Eyes of Earth
Oh my love, why do you deny your worth?
Why gaze at yourself and cast your eyes down?
Your reflection was crafted by the earth,
And is seen in your eyes of golden brown.
But you do not see the tree bark inside,
Nor the bister hues of freshly tilled soil.
You evade the coffee grounds, and decide
To leave your sweet spoons of honey to spoil.
But, I think I shall never see a thing
More dazzling or picturesque than you.
Although you scoff at my imagining,
The earth is in your eyes, my love, it's true.
So when your doubts seem to lead you astray,
Remember my words and you’ll be okay.
Why gaze at yourself and cast your eyes down?
Your reflection was crafted by the earth,
And is seen in your eyes of golden brown.
But you do not see the tree bark inside,
Nor the bister hues of freshly tilled soil.
You evade the coffee grounds, and decide
To leave your sweet spoons of honey to spoil.
But, I think I shall never see a thing
More dazzling or picturesque than you.
Although you scoff at my imagining,
The earth is in your eyes, my love, it's true.
So when your doubts seem to lead you astray,
Remember my words and you’ll be okay.
Memories of Us
oh, let us go then, you and i
laughing quietly into the night
dreaming of the days
and sleeping side by side
always
let us drink the strawberry wine
and sing with guitars and harmonicas
cooking dinner at midnight
and eating breakfast at noon
together
let us watch the crystals combine
and cry at their special bond
wishing we could have that connection
but knowing we have something special
too
let us pack our tackle and fishing poles
and walk to the little frog pond
casting lines into the water
and watching the sun shift into
stars
let us learn to step as one
and sway softly in the candlelight
humming along to our ballad
and whispering our promises as
lovers
laughing quietly into the night
dreaming of the days
and sleeping side by side
always
let us drink the strawberry wine
and sing with guitars and harmonicas
cooking dinner at midnight
and eating breakfast at noon
together
let us watch the crystals combine
and cry at their special bond
wishing we could have that connection
but knowing we have something special
too
let us pack our tackle and fishing poles
and walk to the little frog pond
casting lines into the water
and watching the sun shift into
stars
let us learn to step as one
and sway softly in the candlelight
humming along to our ballad
and whispering our promises as
lovers
Allisynn Bengel is a junior Secondary Education major with a concentration in English. Outside of the lecture halls, Allisynn works as a field student in local school districts and writes poetry about her lover.
Trenton Butt
PennWest Edinboro
The Last Time We Met
PennWest Edinboro
The Last Time We Met
Ring, ring!
I hear your familiar voice yet again
With a smile that withers under twilight
We both laugh and lie about our victories
And more and more, the truth bubbles over.
“How about a game?” You said, the boredom
leaking from your sweet lie
And of course, I accepted,
Never one to deny a challenge.
We talked about nothing for hours
Never once were either of us listening.
Each card we played was a ticking bomb
Exploding
when you left.
I wonder if I lost on purpose
Maybe you would continue to play cards with me.
I wonder if I had looked at your papers closer
Maybe you would still ask me about poetry.
I wonder if I had not given up
Maybe you would still be here with
me.
Omega
Ω
α
We met, presumably, right on the first day of kindergarten
though i was too little to care.
We used to talk about everything boys liked, and played all kinds of games
i do recall, you wore pink clothes often.
Β
First grade was a poorly focused photograph--
you were there, always by my side.
The teachers always frowned, ashamed of me.
they always pretended they didn’t see my hand.
Eventually, my parents decided it’d be best for us to go.
they said it was “too limiting for me” here.
I asked them if I would ever see you again
they chewed the gums of their cheeks, like squirrels.
The week before I left, we made a promise. Of childish love, and of naivety.
a promise i’m sure we thought sounded good.
We’ll be together again, forever and ever!
i'm sure both of us didn’t mean it.
A long time had passed.
Σ
We met again in the junior year of high school.
you grew. you were much more of a man than i remembered.
That long time seemed like minutes.
you were the only reason i was still holding on to hope.
We went to see a movie together.
with your boyfriend there, you felt it was awkward.
It was one of the best nights of my life.
though you thought it was the worst.
It felt like I lost years of my life without you.
and yet, you had so many other people to call friend.
I was obsessed. My emotions got the better of me.
can you blame me? I was just a kid.
The pills rattled in my hand, and your boyfriend’s words to me set me to this path.
“you use antidepressants? Why don’t you down them all?”
You called the cops on me. Police pounded on my door. My father cried.
i still have the socks from the ward.
And from there, it was no longer love I felt for you.
it was an obligation to live for you, not for me.
I just wanted to make you smile.
but you were told to hate me. So you did.
You shut me out, and again, I was alone.
a short time for some, but for me, it was eternity.
X
We met again in summer.
a friend of a friend had tickets to an amusement park.
I had taken the time to reach out yet again.
when we were eating together, we exchanged bad jokes.
Then you stopped for a moment, and said I love you.
you didn’t mean it. I know you didn’t.
I... I love you too.
stupid. stupid. stupid.
We got caught out in the rain. You were looking at me.
those damned puppy eyes, that’s why I believed you.
I was staring at your lips.
don’t hold onto that thread of hope.
Why don’t you kiss me?
you’re smarter than to be tricked like this, come on.
I submitted to my desires, like the sailors in the siren's waters before me.
it was like a movie. one I already knew the ending to.
You started hating me again, as soon as our lips parted.
you put my feelings on a pros and cons chart.
Hook, Lie, and
Sinker.
Ω
it's been almost a year since we last talked.
i sometimes wish that i was more honest with you.
but why should I do that?
i've finally made the friends you stole from me and i intend on
keeping them this time around
i've become a much better artist because of you and even though
we don’t talk, i feel you
with every press of a keyboard,
every stroke of a pencil,
every hum of the vocal cord.
hell, most people would say you’re my muse.
but now i know what you are.
a parasite, eating away at my thoughts.
for your sake and mine, i wrote our story.
so everyone knows how you damned me, and i ate it up.
goodbye, my siren.
i will never tread in your waters again.
I hear your familiar voice yet again
With a smile that withers under twilight
We both laugh and lie about our victories
And more and more, the truth bubbles over.
“How about a game?” You said, the boredom
leaking from your sweet lie
And of course, I accepted,
Never one to deny a challenge.
We talked about nothing for hours
Never once were either of us listening.
Each card we played was a ticking bomb
Exploding
when you left.
I wonder if I lost on purpose
Maybe you would continue to play cards with me.
I wonder if I had looked at your papers closer
Maybe you would still ask me about poetry.
I wonder if I had not given up
Maybe you would still be here with
me.
Omega
Ω
α
We met, presumably, right on the first day of kindergarten
though i was too little to care.
We used to talk about everything boys liked, and played all kinds of games
i do recall, you wore pink clothes often.
Β
First grade was a poorly focused photograph--
you were there, always by my side.
The teachers always frowned, ashamed of me.
they always pretended they didn’t see my hand.
Eventually, my parents decided it’d be best for us to go.
they said it was “too limiting for me” here.
I asked them if I would ever see you again
they chewed the gums of their cheeks, like squirrels.
The week before I left, we made a promise. Of childish love, and of naivety.
a promise i’m sure we thought sounded good.
We’ll be together again, forever and ever!
i'm sure both of us didn’t mean it.
A long time had passed.
Σ
We met again in the junior year of high school.
you grew. you were much more of a man than i remembered.
That long time seemed like minutes.
you were the only reason i was still holding on to hope.
We went to see a movie together.
with your boyfriend there, you felt it was awkward.
It was one of the best nights of my life.
though you thought it was the worst.
It felt like I lost years of my life without you.
and yet, you had so many other people to call friend.
I was obsessed. My emotions got the better of me.
can you blame me? I was just a kid.
The pills rattled in my hand, and your boyfriend’s words to me set me to this path.
“you use antidepressants? Why don’t you down them all?”
You called the cops on me. Police pounded on my door. My father cried.
i still have the socks from the ward.
And from there, it was no longer love I felt for you.
it was an obligation to live for you, not for me.
I just wanted to make you smile.
but you were told to hate me. So you did.
You shut me out, and again, I was alone.
a short time for some, but for me, it was eternity.
X
We met again in summer.
a friend of a friend had tickets to an amusement park.
I had taken the time to reach out yet again.
when we were eating together, we exchanged bad jokes.
Then you stopped for a moment, and said I love you.
you didn’t mean it. I know you didn’t.
I... I love you too.
stupid. stupid. stupid.
We got caught out in the rain. You were looking at me.
those damned puppy eyes, that’s why I believed you.
I was staring at your lips.
don’t hold onto that thread of hope.
Why don’t you kiss me?
you’re smarter than to be tricked like this, come on.
I submitted to my desires, like the sailors in the siren's waters before me.
it was like a movie. one I already knew the ending to.
You started hating me again, as soon as our lips parted.
you put my feelings on a pros and cons chart.
Hook, Lie, and
Sinker.
Ω
it's been almost a year since we last talked.
i sometimes wish that i was more honest with you.
but why should I do that?
i've finally made the friends you stole from me and i intend on
keeping them this time around
i've become a much better artist because of you and even though
we don’t talk, i feel you
with every press of a keyboard,
every stroke of a pencil,
every hum of the vocal cord.
hell, most people would say you’re my muse.
but now i know what you are.
a parasite, eating away at my thoughts.
for your sake and mine, i wrote our story.
so everyone knows how you damned me, and i ate it up.
goodbye, my siren.
i will never tread in your waters again.
Trenton Butt is a junior English Writing major at Edinboro University. They have always had a fascination with media that makes one's skin crawl or tears to bud from their eyes: emotional torture is their favorite. Alongside writing, Trenton also works as a voice actor, with roles stemming from games, animation, commercials, and more. More of that line of work can be found here: https://trentonbuttvoices.com
Suzanne Hunt
PennWest University Clarion
My Trail
PennWest University Clarion
My Trail
I meander on the trail to lighten my heavy head
the rustling canopy of leaves
and the towering old trees
and the chatter of birds
promising happiness
basking in the muted sun
and the whistling breeze is soft
brushing my face
the ferns running wild
and the flowers frolicking in scattered bunches
and breathing in the mild green that surrounds me
soft earth sinking beneath my feet
igniting childlike memories
I can scarcely recall
driving out senseless worries
Beguiling me to hope
and dream
and aspire
to feel so weightless tomorrow.
the rustling canopy of leaves
and the towering old trees
and the chatter of birds
promising happiness
basking in the muted sun
and the whistling breeze is soft
brushing my face
the ferns running wild
and the flowers frolicking in scattered bunches
and breathing in the mild green that surrounds me
soft earth sinking beneath my feet
igniting childlike memories
I can scarcely recall
driving out senseless worries
Beguiling me to hope
and dream
and aspire
to feel so weightless tomorrow.
Suzanne Hunt is a senior at Clarion University majoring in English and obtaining a certificate in creative writing. Hunt was recently published in the Tobeco Journal and is the vice-president of Sigma Tau Delta.
Tae Titus
PennWest Edinboro
The Itch
PennWest Edinboro
The Itch
I was taught that what you had was an itch.
An urge you released by spreading
A rash onto my hips, my pudenda--
Like pox, your hands left scars on my skin.
Afterward, I couldn’t act, you left me alone,
I scratched myself raw from your disease.
But I didn’t know what you did was wrong.
“It’s just an itch,” my mother said.
“He couldn't help himself.”
Every day thereafter, you looked at me like I was prey,
And I, not knowing, accept your predatory desire.
An urge you released by spreading
A rash onto my hips, my pudenda--
Like pox, your hands left scars on my skin.
Afterward, I couldn’t act, you left me alone,
I scratched myself raw from your disease.
But I didn’t know what you did was wrong.
“It’s just an itch,” my mother said.
“He couldn't help himself.”
Every day thereafter, you looked at me like I was prey,
And I, not knowing, accept your predatory desire.
The Pollination
It began with sprouting.
I was growing into my body.
I was only a child.
Daily you watched my seedling
Bend to the light,
Until my petals blossomed.
You smiled when you waved
Your anthers above me
And painted my pistil,
Over and over you
tied me up and trussed me,
Then opened me up again.
You fertilized my innocence,
Then harvested my fruit.
I was growing into my body.
I was only a child.
Daily you watched my seedling
Bend to the light,
Until my petals blossomed.
You smiled when you waved
Your anthers above me
And painted my pistil,
Over and over you
tied me up and trussed me,
Then opened me up again.
You fertilized my innocence,
Then harvested my fruit.
Petrichor of the Beloved
The smell of fresh, wet earth brings thoughts of you.
Your pink, soft lips that hold a bright, warm smile.
The ripples that shimmer, the ocean’s hue.
Waves that carry our heart-to-hearts for miles.
The skies cast no snow for you my love,
You wish for the flurries I know too well.
To send fresh frost where the clouds part above.
For you, I will fill jars with storms I quell.
I will look for you in the smell of rain:
To soon bring peace like the fresh fallen snow.
Upon my mind you are the one I gain.
The rain which jumbles neurons, that I know.
Rain beats with my heart, sure leaving a bruise:
Emotion cradled jars: you are my muse
Your pink, soft lips that hold a bright, warm smile.
The ripples that shimmer, the ocean’s hue.
Waves that carry our heart-to-hearts for miles.
The skies cast no snow for you my love,
You wish for the flurries I know too well.
To send fresh frost where the clouds part above.
For you, I will fill jars with storms I quell.
I will look for you in the smell of rain:
To soon bring peace like the fresh fallen snow.
Upon my mind you are the one I gain.
The rain which jumbles neurons, that I know.
Rain beats with my heart, sure leaving a bruise:
Emotion cradled jars: you are my muse
Tae Titus is a dual-English major in both Writing and Literature at PennWest Edinboro, and minoring in Psychology. While taking classes, they have grown a love for poetry, specifically, the Transcendental poets. Their poems The Itch and The Pollination are two poems for their thesis project and speak to each other. Petrichor of the Beloved is a poem they wrote to their partner for Valentine's Day and is in no relation to the other two poems.