TheBurg

54 | theburgnews.com | 04.18 bY rebeccA bestwIcK Beyond is a bleak, grey skyline I barely recognize my vignette Yet here I am, walking that thin white line As if I had not met him yet I barely recognize my vignette Black swans move like serpentines As if I had not met him yet Slow, calculated, but ready to strike at cloud nine Black swans move like serpentine He still whispers in my ear, I just cannot forget Slow, calculated, but ready to strike me at cloud nine "Pulvis et umbra sumus," was his epithet He still whispers in my ear, I just cannot forget eir banshee bugle wails overcome; I am confined "Pulvis et umbra sumus," was his epithet Like smashed cherries, their eyes were as bloody as port wine eir banshee bugle wails overcome; I am confined He wanted to mold to be a useful asset Like smashed cherries, their eyes were as bloody as port wine I gladly follow those threats He wanted to mold me to be a useful asset What called them on was my mental upset I gladly follow those threats ere is nothing to regret What called them on was my mental upset It is foolish to once think I could outshine ere is nothing to regret All I have ahead is a relentless battle line It is foolish to once think I could outshine I am merely a pathetic statuette All I have ahead is a relentless battle line Soon they all will forget I am merely a pathetic statuette Onyx swans call me to the brackish streamline Soon they all will forget It is there I snipped that innocent white line Onyx swans call me to the brackish streamline He influences my mindset It is there I snipped that innocent white line Time becomes frigid as I sink into that brine outlet He influences my mindset My body is limp in the alkaline Time becomes frigid as I sink into that brine outlet It is there I found no lifeline My body is limp in the alkaline e onyx swans fly in a v-line sextet It is there I found no lifeline He brought me to the finish with no reset Beyond was a bleak, grey skyline Yet there I was, walking that thin white line. Rebecca Bestwick is a first-year marketing major at Penn State Harrisburg. bY megAn JAmnIcKY I'm walking lightly across crisp stale leaves that crinkle from my toes. Goldfoil sparks across the screaming sky Roaring and laughing in glee. Last signs of shivelight burn through the trees Gone now with the impending storm. e white lace of my dress drags behind in Muddy puddles frosting over. My bare feet coated in ashy dust Leave blacked prints to follow by. Time is catching up. It was never on my side. It left my skin creased and dry Desperate and craving and barren. I bend to stroke the soft petal Of a lightly shaded pansy. Petals broken and Torn apart. Time took it too. Echoes chase me down, impatient calls And worried shouts. ey wonder where I've gone. My skin was poked and prodded cut and sewed too many times to count. I'm done with all the pain and tears I'm here now where I belong. Coated in cool misty rain among e nature I dreamed of. I can't go back. Stuffy fake air suffocated my lungs Now burning clear and free with the sharp tang of incoming rain. ey say I need the machines to live But without them I have never been more alive. Megan Jamnicky is a first-year agriculture major at Penn State Harrisburg. bY JoY boettInger You're a shadow—yes a memory Of something that I once knew A teasing glimmer of sun through clouds at never breaks quite through You're an empty silence Where once there was noise Like unfolding sorrow— Collapsing the used-to-be joys You're a promise spoken carelessly A heart desperate for security held to Only to be shattered because you said ings you hadn't realized aren't true You are the cold of winter before spring at the tired soul just wants to leave But no—you're constant, biting, and nonchalant So even those who still have hearts can't grieve You're an ignorant stab with a dull knife And an offhand apology to follow Saying "it's in your head—get over it" Leaving your poison—in my mouth to swallow You're a feeling in myself I can't express Not angry—not really—just distraught And unable to explain the torment Of you constantly reminding me what I'm not Joy Boettinger is a junior elementary education major at Penn State Harrisburg. Creative works by students at Penn State Harrisburg continued...

• Cover