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Issue 1 Poetry

Jaclyn

“I wrote all of these pieces on my own volition, inspired by the people within my life. Typically, I get all my thoughts down through word vomiting on the paper, then spend the majority of my writing process revising. All of these writings have benefited from the perspectives of others, allowing me to get to a place where I am proud of my works.”

Jaclyn

Or sometimes Danielle,
maybe even Dani by
your oldest acquaintances,
but I have only known you as

Jaclyn.

Did you know
that your name means
“supplanter,” or
the one
“may God protect”?

I don’t know if I believe in God
and when I think of all
you have endured,
I wonder if you still believe.

Have you been protected?

Supplanter, in its obsolete definition,
translates to “uproot,”
a forceful removal.
So much has
been removed from you,
not by choice –
by circumstance.

You’ve lost a mother
and a father, and
sometimes yourself,

and yet,

you are still here.

Supplanter: to supersede
(another) especially
by force or treachery.

You are neither forceful
nor treacherous, but
you supersede
all that has been put
before you.

Amelia Modes is a third-year student studying Creative Writing and Media & Cinema Studies at DePaul. Amelia finds catharsis within the writing process, basing many of her works on personal experiences. Through her work at the Writing Center, Amelia has discovered the benefits of feedback and collaboration in crafting creative writings. She hopes that her works bring you as much joy as she had in crafting them.