Yearningforsomewherenewanduntouched...
Twirlingdressesandlacedupbrownboots
Anescape Thatsmilesatyouinbeamsoffilteredsun, Likeachild'sinnocentdream
Lostlovesandintricateconcealedswords
byLexyRussell she/her, '23
Therewasaholeinyourheart,butit'sbeenfilled bytheall-consumingembraceofnature Thisisthesortofadventurethattheforestalludesto, Watchesover,asyoustrolldownawell-wornpath.
Dartingthroughvinesandforestshrubbery,searching Hiddenworldsunderthecoverofthetreetops
StoriedWoods
Asenseofmysteryandexcitement, Adrenalineflowingthroughyourveins Asyourunbacktothepersonyoumissedthemost.
Alandofdiscovery,aprickleonthebackofyourneck
Theleavestumble Down Down ForeverDownaroundyoulikeemeraldconfetti, Whisperingthetree'ssweetsongs. Yoursubconsciousmindfollowstheirvoices
Elvesanddwarvesandhobbitsandgiantspiders
Asthenocturneprogressed,Ibecameangrier,mykeystrokessharper.Mylowerhalfwastense,feetpressingdown forcefullyintothemoss.Itwasn'tfairthatshegottokeepherpower,thatshehadsomuchmagic,morethanI everhad.HerpowerwasconstantlygrowingandIwasstuckinplace,drainedandempty,lefttowatchasshe surpassedme. Thevinesonhersideofthepianomovedinperfecttimewiththemusic.Shewasenthralledintheharmonyshe wasplayingandtheplantspickedupherrhythmthroughtheirconnectiontoher.Itwasinfuriatingtolook forwardagainandseethroughmydull,dulleyesthattheflorahadmovedovertotherightsideofthepiano, drawntoherenergy.Drawnawayfromme. Westayedlikethat,playingpieceafterpieceforhours,timeslowingandinsignificant,acontinuousflowof music.Andthroughitall,thenightwaslitbyamotleyofheraura,moonlightandpassingfireflies.Theplants neverstoppedmovinginunitywithher;mysideremainedstill. Anditwashoursafterwefirstmet,myemotionshavingheightenedintosomethingalmostuncontrollable,when Irealizedasimplesolutiontotheannoyanceofherexistence.
byGabrielaRoberts she/her, '23
Ienteredtheforestatdusk,rightasthelaststreaksfromthesun'sdisafpearanceweredispersingandfadingon thehorizon.Itwouldtakeawhiletogettheclearinginthetrees,buthadbeendoingthis,cominghere,long enoughtoknowhowtotimemyarrivalperfectly.Theforest,natureitself,providingpeacefulsoundsofcreatures andlappingwaterfromawaysoffoftheclearingwhereIwaited. Waitedandstared.Stared,myfaceblank,atthepianostandingproudonthegrass.Iwouldcallitmocking.The waythepianoexisted.ThewayitwaswovensoseamlesslyintotheEarthandmagicsurroundingit.Astark contrasttothewayIwasn't.
TheForest'sPiano
30
Inasickway,itmadesensethatthepianoradiatedprideandpower.ItwasbornoftheEarth,aphysical manifestationofsomethingancient,afterall.Ithadacommandoverthemagicthatexistedinrelationtoit.Itwas insomesemblanceofcontrol. SometimesIthoughtthepianohadamindofitsown. Iwasn'tquitesurewhyIalwaysreturnedtotheclearingandthepiano.Weekafterweekasifmypulltoit remainedafterthattragicnightthreemoonsago.Mygratitudefortheclearinghadbeensuckedoutwhenthe treesandvinesandprettilyperfectflowersdecidedtostealmymagicfromme.Tocallmeundeserving.Asif anyonewouldeverbebetter. AsifcallingherbetterwhenshehadsatnexttomewhileIwasstrippedofmyeverything. Shecametotheclearingshortlyafterme,bringinganewlightsourcethatblendedwiththemoonlightand fireflies'glow.Shesaidnothingasshewalkedoutofthetrees,morefloatingratherthanwalking,andcomingto standbesideme.Shewaitedamoment,staringatthepianoandbenchcoveredinmoss,vinessnakingtheirway uptheancientwood. Shemovedforwardthen,aghostlyarmoutstretched,reachingtowardkeys.Thegreenlifeonthepianoflourished inherpresence,inthemagicofherbeing.''Areyougoingtostandthereandstare,orshallweplaysomething?" Iwatchedforamomentlonger,silentjealousybuildingasthevinesandflowerschangedpositionsonthepiano's case.Theystoppeddoingthatformewhentheytookmymagic.Forcingmybodytorelaxandmylipstoquirk upward,Iwalkedtomeether."DoyouknowanythingbyFredericChopin?"
"ThePolishcomposer."Shesaid,notquestioning,withoutlookingawayfromtheplantsbeforeher,fingers weavingthroughtheirleavesandstems.'Yes,Iknowhim,"asmallnodthenasharpturnofherhead,violeteyes, likemineusedtobe,inlinewithwhatwasnowalifelessgray,"Whichpiece?" Shewasperfect,beautiful,powerful.Filledtothebrimwithmagicandoverwhelmingloveforplants.Shewas everythingIusedtobe.EverythingIwishedtobeoncemore. Weusedtobefriends.Ithinkshebelieveswestillare. Isatdownonherleftandinsteadofansweringbeganplayingdark,minortones.Shehummedinrecognitionand beganplayingtheaccompanyingduetonthehigherrangekeys.
