Predator/Prey

Trevanian Pore

I wonder what it smells like

in Colorado,

up in the mountains

where my brother is

buried.

I know the place

he’s buried is posh,

so they don’t let the leaves

stay on the ground

long enough to get that slightly bitter

afternote of dirt

and rain.

I hope he’s not cold,

the type of cold you get

from frozen dirt

isn’t the same as that comforting,

sharp, rain

induced chill.

I’m facing off

with the graveyard again,

its lips are pulled back

revealing its rows

of sharp teeth.

I sink down

in my seat,

pondering what color

stone my brother’s

family decided on.

I hope it’s interesting.

Theres a sort of itch

under my skin

as I stare ahead

at the cracked,

Crumbling tombstones

across the intersection

from me.

You don’t show

a predator your belly.

You don’t break its gaze.

I’m exhausted.

I know that the dirt and grass

crowding the greying

fangs of the field

ahead of me carries the scent

of fresh rain.

I want a cigarette.

I don’t smoke.

The graveyard turns

its head to meet my

eyes,

and I stare back,

unblinking.

The car pulls forward

and the choice is taken

away from me.

Days will pass,

then that scent is back

Its damp earth

and fresh cut grass,

It’s the decay of leaves

and crushed pine needles.

I’m showing

my belly.

The graveyard

concedes,

its teeth slipping back out of view,

and its hackles lower.

Rae Rogers

Biography: Hi, I’m Rae, and I’m a first year DIM major here at OSU. I can’t remember when or why I started drawing, but it’s always been a part of my life. No matter what form it takes, creativity is something I can’t seem to let go. I mostly draw traditionally with this metal mechanical pencil I’ve owned for 6 years and whatever random sketchbook I can find, but I dabble in all kinds of mediums like print making, ceramics and painting. Aside from art, I love to read, listen to music and dance too.

Artist Statement: I created this piece to represent the impact of a single moment my OC experiences, which opens her eyes to who she was, and who she needs to become. Through the imagery of the raven, I wanted to play on themes of death and transformation, as well as sight. The eyes are used to convey this eye-opening moment of her identity shift, and the death of who she was. I interpreted the theme of Visions as a moment when you recognize your past identity, while faced with a personal change you can’t deny, which this piece represents.

Trevanian Pore

Biography: Trevanian is a third year creative writing major at OSU who is interested in questions of mortality, the abstract and the strange.

Artist Statement: This piece is about the speaker being stalked by this personified version of grief that takes the shape of a graveyard. there’s all these sights and smells remind the speaker of their brother, and then they are taken to that physical place their brother may inhabit now. Grief is a predator stalking them, a graveyard with teeth, and it takes them breaking away from these “visions”, and that fear of grieving to confront it and make it go away.