Performed by Val Cole

POEM:

Shadows
(they move)

Deep breaths
(can’t breathe)

Darkness swirls
(like the madness in my mind)

Deep breaths
(can’t breathe)

Name 5 things
(but it doesn’t go away)

Deep breaths
(can’t breathe)

Tree branches caress the window
(or scratching fingers)

Deep breaths
(can’t breathe)

What’s that sound
(just the wind, love)

Deep breaths
(can’t breathe)

Who said that?

Get to know the poet:

1) What is the theme of your poem?
Insanity! I wanted to convey that feeling when you're in bed at night and your mind is playing tricks on you because you've just watched the scariest movie you've ever seen in your life.

2) What motivated you to write this poem?
I thought this festival was a really fun opportunity to write horror poetry, which is not a genre you see requested very often.

3) How long have you been writing poetry?
About five years.

4) If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would
that be?
Ooh, good question! Probably Mary Shelley. Frankenstein is my favorite book.

5) What influenced you to submit to have your poetry performed by a
professional actor?
I could hear it in my head as I wrote it, which does make me sound a little crazy, I know. But I thought it would translate really well to audio format.

6) Do you write other works? scripts? Short Stories? Etc..?
I do! I write short stories, screenplays and plays, and I'm working on a novel now. Mostly I write in the horror genre.

7) What is your passion in life?
Writing!