Internal Storm

By Rizouana Prome

Discussed: mental illness

This poem explores the feeling of neglecting different parts of your personality to achieve a certain goal, yet feeling incapable of doing so.

A sudden storm took over me 
The type I never knew existed
It made my world dark and gloomy 
Swept away my most memorable memories 

As I tried to survive
I forgot the sunny days
I forgot the cherry blossoms
I forgot the sound of stepping on fall leaves 
I forgot the touch of people
I forgot me myself and I

At times it disappears 
I dream for a while
Hoping things would fall into place 
Just then it presents itself 
Stronger than ever 
I seek shelter 
Try to find comfort
Until I realize it’s inside
Gradually uprooting me

Girls Write Now On the Other Side of Everything: The 2023 Anthology

Do you know what it’s like to communicate with your family across a salty ocean’s divide? Do you want the sun and moon to enter your home with stories written in embers? Do you seek voices that will punctuate the darkness? Welcome to the other side of everything. It’s the other side of silence, the other side of childhood, the other side of hate, the other side of indifference, it’s the other side of sides, where the binary breaks down. It’s a new paradigm, a destination, a different perspective, a mindset, a state of openness, the space between the endless folds in your forehead, hopes for tomorrow, and reflections on the past. This anthology of diverse voices is an everything bagel of literary genres and love songs, secrets whispered in the dark of night, conversations held with ancestors under the sea. 

READ ON THE OTHER SIDE

VISIT ANTHOLOGY LIBRARY

Process

The first semester of senior year, going back to school in person and going through the college application process, it felt like every day I was just existing. I forgot what it meant to be a teenager and enjoy the little moments in life. This poem allowed me to put these thoughts into words.