Unfinished Exit
Claudia Wysocky
I keeping thinking
about the time in high school
when you drew
me
a map of the city,
I still have it somewhere.
It was so easy
to get lost
in a place where all the trees
look the same.
And now
every time I see
a missing person's poster
stapled to a pole,
all I can think is
that could have been me.
Missing,
disappeared.
But there are no
posters for people
who just never came back
from vacation, from college,
from life.
You haven't killed yourself
because you'd have to commit to a
single exit.
What you wouldn't give to be your cousin Catherine,
who you watched
twice in one weekend get strangled nude
in a bathtub onstage
by the actor who once
filled your mouth with quarters at
your mother's funeral.
The curtains closed and opened again.
We applauded until
our hands were sore.
But you couldn't shake the image of
her lifeless body,
the way she hung there like a
marionette with cut strings.
And now every time you try to write a poem,
it feels like a
eulogy.
Claudia Wysocky has been crafting fiction for over five years and has published several poems in local newspapers. Writing has always been her passion, and poetry is one of her favorite forms of expression. Claudia is an immigrant from Poland but currently resides in America. Her poetry is influenced by her heritage and her experiences. She believes that her unique perspective can offer a fresh take on familiar themes.
“One of the joys of writing is that it's a never-ending journey. There's always something new to learn, and it's a great motivator to help me write. I am constantly inspired by the world around me and the people I meet. My poetry reflects my experiences and emotions, and I hope that it resonates with others.” - Claudia Wysocky