Hoarder

Piles upon piles,
clothes stacked circa 2004,
untouched since then,
like the dusty box TV that sits
high above a queen bed,
sheets unwashed for weeks.

Windows unopened for too long,
the air of the room thick, warm, musty,
reminiscent of the years before this felt
unusual, unhealthy.

Overlooking the holes in my walls,
I’d go to bed, unable to sleep,
scared to be alone,
but scared to wake her up.

All she had was sleep,

and bags, and shoes, and makeup, and jewelry,
and lots of clothes, but they don’t fit her,

and they don’t comfort
like people do.

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Alexis Galant is an undergraduate student at Binghamton University studying creative writing in hopes of becoming a published author and teacher. She runs the Binghamton Poetry Club as a senior advisor and was previously an undergraduate representative for Binghamton’s creative writing department under poet and professor Tina Chang.