Author: seaprepignite

Yzie Del Rosario ‘25

This is one of three poems that were inspired by a chapter in the novel Valentine.  In that novel, the main character works to reclaim her sense of self after surviving a violent assault. Her mother was deported back to Mexico, and she has only her uncle, a Vietnam war veteran, who is trying his best to support her and help her heal. 

Call me anything,

Because every time I hear it, I hear his voice.

Out in the oil patch,

he played his music loud

Why wouldn’t he?

Who was there to hear?

The scar begins below my breasts,

a meandering path down my torso.

Luché, luché, luché

Thin scars cover my feet–

cactus thorns, steel, barbed wire.

All the things I stepped on

walking away from his truck.

Tina’s hand brushes mine.

I jerk away.

The last time I felt hands on my skin–

I remembered.

I reach under the pillow,

fingers running across the folded pocketknife.

Estaré listo

Cate Holzli ‘25

This is one of three poems that were inspired by a chapter in the novel Valentine.  In that novel, the main character works to reclaim her sense of self after surviving a violent assault. Her mother was deported back to Mexico, and she has only her uncle, a Vietnam war veteran, who is trying his best to support her and help her heal. 

Begin

Glory rolled her eyes

Between her ears and the world

Call me anything

Nobody.

Help.

He was right.

Start packing, Glory.

Scars.

This isn’t your life.

Ungrateful.

Dream, Spark of pleasure—horror.

Quiet.

Still.

Grow up.

You’re gonna be okay.

Smooth steel,

Leather handle,

Pocketknife.

Alive,

Pulling,

Pushing,

Back into the dark.

Wait.

She fought.

You survived this.

This is a war story.

Together.

Loneliness

Stolen from herself.

That evil belongs to him.

She can stay afloat.

I’m sorry,

Poor little thing.

Voices, Stories,

Maybe this is yours.

End.

Reese Hanson ’25

This is one of three poems that were inspired by a chapter in the novel Valentine.  In that novel, the main character works to reclaim her sense of self after surviving a violent assault. Her mother was deported back to Mexico, and she has only her uncle, a Vietnam war veteran, who is trying his best to support her and help her heal. 

Stripped of a mother and her years

Bright red scars on her feet from running out there

Exposed to the shark’s teeth

This isn’t your life

Horror has brought her here

Grabs her ankles and legs and neck

She fought, she fought, she fought

You survived this

  

This is a war story

Its fingers still wrapped around Glory

Stupidest girl in the world

She is getting past this

  

She don’t want to start over

Glory’s life is a stopped tape

It has been stolen from her

This is not my story

She is a refugee

Holding out her hands

Save me, pardon me

Glory is broken, blue, and scarred

This story is yours.