most of my companions

This image shows a blackout poetry piece created on a page of Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein”. The background is predominantly drawn over in black marker, with a pasted image of a group of smiling children in the top left corner of the page. Select words and phrases have been left visible and highlighted in pale orange, creating a new poetic message against the darkened background.

By Vanessa Osei-Owusu

most of my companions have been
going in different directions

I attempted to accompany them,
but my head whirled round,
my eyes, and my skin was parched with the heat of fever.

as if by instinct,

. I was

recalled to action. I started up and re-
solved to return with all possible speed.
I must return by
morning, . I
experienced
relief from the overflowing misery

. I looked
up, in my happier

moment, I saw
a great and
sudden change. The sun shine