Jess Hoops, a senior English and Philosophy double major, has been the Editor-in-Chief of Clark Writes since the end of her freshman year. She is also President of Clark’s English Honor Society, a writing consultant at Clark’s Writing Center, and an editorial consultant for a literary agency in New York City. Although Jess spends most of her time working with other people’s writing, she enjoys crafting the occasional poem and has placed 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in Clark’s annual Prentiss Cheney Hoyt Poetry Contest.
Her poem “Immortality” was inspired by the writing style and “tone of playful irreverence” frequently showcased in the work of Emily Dickinson. Jess describes the poem as “forcing a ton of legendary quests for immortality and conceptions of the afterlife into the same space so I could poke fun at them on equal terms, while still demonstrating my intense interest in them.” Read “Immortality” below.
Immortality
Jessica Hoops
How simple – how impossible
To turn the sands of Time –
The hourglass – Infinity
If placed upon its side
To blunt the blades of Atropos
All mortal fools desire
Late Summer feeds these fever dreams
‘Til Winter – bids retire
A few relapse those final hours
The ‘glass remains upright –
They are but moths bewitched by Flame
Their light dimmed – seeking Light
Others are blind – their whole lives through
And pay the ‘glass no mind –
Assured it is a bauble they
Will someday leave behind Continue reading
Clark Writes 