By Trae Morgan-White
thanks to your damage, i’m stranded in dark paradise,
but i’ve made it a permanent home,
gnawing on my flesh and coconut shells,
sheltered inside stick houses and stuck with myself.
i’m writing you this message in a bottle,
but i also put in a special surprise—
the old me,
once this gets to you,
take care of him,
force-feed him with lies and deceit,
because the new me deserves my attention,
and i’m feeding him with self-worth
and serenity.
Trae Morgan-White is a senior at Penn State University, University Park. Aside from majoring in Digital and Print Journalism with an English minor, Trae is a singer-songwriter, poet, blogger, and graphic designer. He publishes his music and poetry under the moniker “blancoBLK,” and is also a current member of Penn State’s W.O.R.D.S. and Onward State. He performed in his first poetry slam in 2019, influencing his writing of love, friendships, mental health, and social justice.