banyon

I received feedback that the clarity of the piece fell off when I started to introduce new “characters.” The language surprised me because in the piece I talk about my Dad and my Grandma, but it’s true, to the reader they are characters. I realized I needed to expand on the “where” and “who” in the second half of the piece to make the images and experience more clear. I added a line about “unfamiliar rooms” and tied in “corners” to the musical event to give a stronger sense of space. The new capitalization of “We” signifies the royal, familial “We,” as we hold cautious hope for the future of our family, even though it looks different than we expected.

adulthood

growing up

independence

is just

loneliness

disguised in poised stress

hip problems happen because no one can cum

marriage is just sacrifice

and selflessness is misery because it is never balanced

and i

feel

such

despair

as I roam

in and out

of unfamiliar rooms

the lilt of my grandmother’s hands on a walmart piano

fill the corners

of a strange home

a sweet home

that my dad cried in as he showed me around

because he wanted it to feel like my own/

tomorrow,

We will go to the ocean
drink beer in the sun

remind ourselves things are okay

We think

Anne Shook (they, she) is an actor, director, poet, and recent graduate of DePaul University (BFA Acting and BA in Communications and Media). During their time in undergrad, they started self-publishing their work online. The Orange Couch is their first professional publication and they are stoked to be a part of Issue 4. Anne enjoys spending time on the beach and advocating for survivors of sexual violence and LGBTQ rights.