Escape
We stood in the yellow light
whispers spread to close companions
Fenced into bubbles, timid as a tulip’s bud
We saw the potions being poured
the amber and teal and sunset pinks
liquid gold encased in red
We laughed as joy poured down our throats
and watched the cool dew descend
and the moon start to breathe
We danced out of unison
in the pulsing lights to the
melodies that leeched off our blood
We remembered our origins
when each of our earths were sent on a
crash course into each other and rejoiced
We turned our heads and shunned
the temperature’s rising in our fellow revelers,
from hearts to heads to fists
We closed our eyes
when we saw the river girl’s eyes set aflood
as they do each springtime celebration
We brushed off the quiet smoke and whips
so carelessly flung at us from
her sneaking, smiling maw
We refused the shadows
as they tried to slither through our eyes
to slip ice in our veins and consume our minds
We ran away from the orange light that
stretched over the concrete
We resented the stars
for falling asleep and leaving
their shadows in our eyes
We wanted to return
to the heights of separation
of flesh and cloudy hearts
We were not done with the noise
Ellen Weber is studying graphic design and creative writing at SUNY Oswego. She is currently developing her first novel, as well as continuing to work on her poetry. When she’s not writing, she is working on her illustrations, reading, or relaxing by the lake.