Poetry and Art by Alyssa Russell

Propaganda.

And when I shut my eyes,
What should I see?
Massive crowds, burned cities,
Powerless beliefs?

And when my eyes are burning,
Should it be with empathy?
When I'm too sorry for myself,
Is it more like apathy?

And when you all are speaking
Does my silence give away
All the plans to end your uselessness
And bring forth another day?

And will your eyes deceive you
When you finally turn around
And you see that it is me
Who is rallying the crowd?

Untitled [two]

Pages turn under dim lights,
Reminding me of
The way you write.
The words caress my face,
And I have to turn away.

Walls fade out around me,
And I fall into
Our fantasy.
Wishes of bulbous towers,
Moonlit strolls and snowy powder.