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This writing was accepted for publication in the 108 page perfect-bound ISSN# / ISBN# issue/book “Formative” Down in the Dirt, v170 (the Apr. 2020 Issue) Order the paperback book:

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Captive

Danielle Hark

Part of me died behind a tangle of branches
in a perilous realm of green and brown.

A leafy dungeon where birds chanted dirges
and deer warned, “Stay out! Stay out!”

Where trees had eyes and watched
as I lost piece after piece of myself.

Where my life was stolen, my vitality,
my soul. I entered a child, and returned

a ghost. A whisper of a person
unable to feel. Unable to remember

who I was. My hopes. My dreams.
Color drained, I floated on, grey

and translucent, wearing a mask,
pink and smiling. Fooled everyone,

even myself, until the blackness of
green and brown began flooding

my vacant corpse. Memories haunting
waking daymares. Labyrinthine trails.

Trapped in a tangle. Arms, legs, dirt,
vegetation, encircling, ensnaring.

Holding me captive. Forcing me down.
Roots snaking every inch of my flesh.

Like hands, fingers, a body covering me.
Smothering. My mouth. My neck.

Squeezing until I could hardly breath.
Paralyzing me in a green and brown

cocoon. The last thing I heard,
whispers on a silent wind...

“Stay out! Stay out!”

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