By Christopher Lancette
PROMPT — If only ...
1
Anger deep inside
Disorder not understood —
Hoarding, you bastard
2
Your eyes, so much hate
Burning me to the ground, why?
You loved me once
3
It’s me, I’m in here
Buried beneath your contempt
Shame less, dig out more
4
Mountains of junk mail
Free stuff jumps on top the pile
Jail cell walls close in
5
Urine yellow silk
Rat corpse and shit, I want that —
Mother’s wedding dress
6
Metal dumpster clangs
Taking treasures you call trash
Why do you hate me?
7
Blood boiling, hope you die
Take my stuff, my soul, my life —
All the same to me
8
Disorder talking,
Demon does not speak for me
Pained that you can’t tell
9
Muscle memory
Blind paths connecting each room
But none to escape
10
Demon bites my tongue
I’ll die here if you don’t help
Can’t you hear my screams?
Christopher Lancette is a Silver Spring, Maryland-based writer focusing on nature and the environment. He also runs an estate liquidation company that helps clean out homes affected by hoarding. His work has appeared in some 50 publications ranging from A Thin Slice of Anxiety and Biography and Salon and the Washington Independent Review of Books. He earned his journalism degree from the University of Georgia. Follow him on X at @chrislancette.