POEM: The Grim Sleeper
The Grim Sleeper
by Adam Blowers
Fetal position on the mattress,
The fireplace dims and she’s waiting for him
To return from scavenging the forest
For lost truckers and whatever unlucky suckers
Wander late at night, be they edgy teens
Dancing, drugging and dodging the cops,
Or be they drunkards far from the bar.
She fans the fireplace, wondering
Why he always tells her the flames come from hell,
And how is it she never sees him striking
Any matches, or whatever it is that catches
Fire late at night, be it alcohol,
Oils, bundles of kindle, and where
He seems to disappear to out there.
She falls asleep long before he’s home,
The fireplace burns and she tosses and turns.
Every night in her mind she sees it clearly,
The same visions of people screaming, and a demon
Dragging them outside, in between the trees,
Pleading, bleeding and screaming “please stop,
I’m not meant to die, oh dear God why!”
Adam is a Junior majoring in English with a concentration in Writing and Writing studies. You can find more of his work at https://tinyurl.com/ablowers
Every week The Comment dedicates space to publishing creative work from students. To submit a creative writing piece or artwork, please email hpearson@student.bridgew.edu
