EDITOR’S NOTE: Each spring, the LaPorte High School English Department presents the Iselman Writing Awards to four LPHS students. The English Department has awarded
Chris Iselman
these honors every year since 1974. Christopher Iselman was a member of the LPHS Class of 1970. After Chris died during his senior year, his parents and teachers decided to honor his love of writing by establishing this contest.
Students submit their works in four categories — essay, personal narrative, poetry, and short story. Students’ submissions are judged anonymously by LPHS English teachers. This year’s awardees are: Essay, Julia Jongkind; Personal Narrative, Taylor Jump; Poetry, Emily Richardson; Short Story, Geovanny Tapia.
Each winner receives a certificate and a plaque, and his/her name is added to a large permanent plaque displayed in the LPHS English Office. WNLP is proud to present these students’ works, today with Emily Richardson’s poem, “Bones.”
Bones
Gently nibble at my exposed flesh and mind
while glittering cosmos and universes depart from my eyes
as you tear down my body’s castle defense
Poet Emily Richardson
and I pray for a lust to be attributed to me
in the sickest way.
My mind’s dull scratchy vines would blossom in immense majesty
and my eyes would curtain themselves with burgundy drapes
and my head would aim to the low ceiling
in response to an image of you
my throat may tighten like anaphylaxis,
my body may blush like heat rash
And even my soul might thaw in the hot frenzy of these moments
I’ll lean towards you like a plant growing towards the sun
my hands will slide on your sides, caressing your gentle curves
I will consume the idealized thought of you,
until your razorblade fingernails shred my insides
and only then will I exhale the memory of you.