This Is the Way We Reward the System

A collaborative poem

A collaborative erasure by students in Leah Poole Osowski’s English 50 class: Dimonquie Allen, Abby Allenbaugh, Zane Baker, Maddisen Cook, Meghan Flaugh, Brianna Heeter, Aysten Kitchens, Gwen Luden, Kellianne Mankin, Alecia Marmora, Jessica Mccoy, Hannah Miller, Maleah Orr, Taylor Riazzi, Bethany Spinks, Samuel Stanell, Morgan Stoner, Lars Thomason, Marie Weaverling, and Allison Wolf

Unfazed for open windows,
blue eyes closed to hide her,
from shore she begged.

Rowing hearty men
lunging bodies, stench of horses,
laughing downhill crumpled,

high drugs, environment
indicating females,
one teaspoonful plenty plastered.

Whispers stood there
flesh and frozen, sound the faucet
the torches the shelter,

two girls moved under house
with blood deep hemispheres.
Less certain the gate was open;

questions the extraordinary world.
My woman wanted my hold,
press out wide as like layers

rasped unevenly, time glanced out
brain sex the expression
just stiff without taking wing.

Her uncle bit her thigh.
I’m sick of this baby.