Geography

I shall speak, not of self, but of geography
Of where I am at any given moment
A location changing quickly without notice or warning

Notice — the feeling
Like two different shades
Of the same color
Notice — the coil
Of the thought around itself
Like a snake around prey

I shall speak, not of self, but of geography
Of all the places a mind goes
When you are not paying attention

Notice — the sound
Of the rock kicked down
Through the sewer gate
You’ve been there — in the water
Looking up through the concrete
Notice — the panic
Of paper tossed thoughtlessly
Carelessly into fire
You’ve been there — in the chaos
Defenseless against the flames

I shall speak, not of self, but of geography
Of who I am at any given moment
All those shifting unfamiliar faces

Notice — the shift
Like looking up on the bus
Suddenly in another part of the city
Notice — the faces
If you can
Only if you still can

I shall speak, not of self, but of geography
Of all the people I can be at the same time
But only because I have to be

—Meghan Kelleher

Seed: “I shall speak, not of self, but of geography”

Source: “We Are Many” by Pablo Neruda

Meghan Kelleher is a fiction writer, poet, musician, and teacher. She graduated from Boston College in 2016 with a double major in English and Education and is currently completing her Masters in Creative Writing at Dartmouth College. Meghan is the lead singer of the Boston-based indie rock band Divine Sweater. She also teaches English at Noble and Greenough School in Dedham, Massachusetts.