About the column:

Poems of our Climate is a weekly poetry column run by Oliver Egger ’23. Oliver Egger also runs the literary magazine group Route 9, which is currently accepting submissions for its poetry zine, The Lavender. If you would like to submit poetry to The Lavender, go to tinyurl.com/wespoetry. If you are interested in having your poem featured in this column please email your work directly to oegger@wesleyan.edu.

3:42 AM

By John Bell ’23

 

In the warmth of water’s caress, I lay

in a kiddie pool without plastic

walls. Upturned, my head rests 

in a dead man’s float. The popcorn ceiling,

not yet smoothed over, pops

balloons.

 

The water beneath me disperses,

leaving me soaked, liquid deep in the scratches

on the hardwood our eager dog

engraved in speedy pursuit. The water

reaches new corners, dampening the dust

of untouched cupboards.

 

Two tall stalks of denim 

walk closer, robust yet bending

over, reach down and ask 

if I want to take a bath 

in the upstairs Jacuzzi

I don’t remember existing.

 

About the poet:

Bell is a poet and visual artist from the Garden State. They consistently check if they’re asleep and dreaming and hope you feel the need to too.