Peeled Away

by Sara Traynor, age 16; Ethan Kim, age 16; and Reagan Prior, age 16
Sara is a junior at Clarkstown South High School. She writes everything, but really likes memoir. In fiction, she often includes a nefarious character named Janine. / Ethan Kim is a junior at Nyack High School. He is an avid poet who writes and edits for his school's literary magazine. / Reagan Prior is a junior at Clarkstown South High School. She likes to write fantastical and thrilling fiction. She likes thunderstorms better than sunshine.

“A layer of skin has been peeled away / Revealing what lies beneath me / Secrets exposing themselves / In the burning light”

     

A layer of skin has been peeled away

Revealing what lies beneath me

Secrets exposing themselves

In the burning light

 

Revealing what lies beneath me

A heart like a broken clock

In the burning light

The timing of feelings is always slightly off

 

A heart like a broken clock

Our face like its display

The timing of feelings is always slightly off

It’s imperfect, but not needing to be perfect

 

Our face like its display

Hands covering the eyes, the expression of the lips

It’s imperfect, but not needing to be perfect

Only safe from such piercing, cold indifference

 

Hands covering the eyes, the expression of the lips

A layer of skin has been peeled away

It’s imperfect, but not needing to be perfect

Secrets exposing themselves