Stop reaching out to me
with stiff limbs, with
flaky breaking branches
trying to save themselves
from the barrenness
of the earth that feeds them.
Say my name out loud,
and touch my skin
with tender fingertips
as if honey could flow
right through us, as if
our heart beats could
hear each other, and say
“I know,
I’ve been struggling too.”
Dani Fruehan is a fourth-year student at Penn State University Park enrolled in a five-year BA/MA program for creative writing. Through this program, she has studied under strong and established writers, who inspire her to always write her truth. She also works as a writing tutor and as a Workshop Coordinator for the Penn State Learning Writing Center. She loves to write poetry and has been published in previous editions of Klio/Kalliope.