c/o Leo Egger
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. Submissions end for the first issue on the 12th. If you are interested in having your poem featured in this column please email your work directly to oegger@wesleyan.edu.
Where I Go When I Go to Walgreens
By Emily Hollander ’23
I have today.
At least –
I may not be here
Tomorrow.
I fear, I know
I will disappear –
Like that man
Who drifted off,
Woke to find
His yellow floaty
Among the silver
Blue backs of fish,
Milky skin
Burnt to a crisp –
The laughingstock
Of all perch and porgy.
This is to say –
As I step out the door
I am cast out to sea
Far, far out of reach
Of anything that stands
On two feet.
This is to say –
To pull up my jeans,
To brush my teeth,
Is to surmount
Formidable risk.
That to live one day
Is to stand alone,
In an alleyway.
This is to say –
I will follow that
Small white rabbit,
And never find
My way back –
Turning, tunneling,
Turning again.
I will forget
To stop running,
Go around the planet
Five times over
Before I stop
To rest.
At least –
I have today.
I close my eyes,
Wipe my forehead
With a sigh,
Put away that
Eternal loneliness
For the clear blue sky.
About the Poet:
Emily Hollander is a junior majoring in English and Environmental Studies in addition to competing on varsity Cross Country and Track & Field. When she is not running or writing, she enjoys painting, hiking, and farming at Long Lane.