Sydney Schlegel's Website

Marvelgirl 101

  • A River Speaks

    I am a river,winding through the scarsof industry,carving my way through the ruinsof progress.My waters hold the storiesof what once flourished–the salmon’s run,the heron’s hunt.Now I carry the weightof plastic,the ghosts of fish have longsince vanished.But still, I flow,a liquid… Continue reading

  • Kaho’olawe’s Silence

    An island once full of life,now a desolate landscape. An island draped in sorrow,once sacred, became a target. The Earth trembles beneath the weightof unanswered prayers. With every explosion,the land bleeds history. Cries of wildlife consumedby artificial roars. Echoes of… Continue reading

  • Whispers of a Forest

    Lush forests, where secrets dwell,Between two towns in Colorado,Dolores and Mancos, a tale to tell.Spruce trees rise, a green embrace,A winding road, a tranquil space. Only twenty minutes, yet time stands still,Lost in the woods, a quiet thrill.Familiar paths, yet… Continue reading

  • The Conversation

    Growling interrupts the calm.The sound sends a chill down my spine.A searing pain erupts from my stomach. I feel like my body is on fire.My head pounds against my skull.A black liquid pours down from my eyes. The liquid mixes… Continue reading

  • Little Red Riding Hood

    Follow me home,Over the hillsof asphalt,Through woodsMade of concreteAnd iron. Follow cracked sidewalks,Shadows hidebehind brick walls,Street lampslight the path. People will starePeople will wonderPeople will ignoreYour plea for helpVoices mumbling aroundWhispers surround Life continues onThe hungry stareFollowing my figureBurns throughMy… Continue reading

  • Watching

    The windowslidesopen,and closed. It goesup,and down. You can look out,but otherscan lookin. They can watch youfrom afar,or upclose. Make sureto lockthe window. You don’t wantthe otherswatchingto get in. Keep themout,but keep yourselfin. Published in UVU Warp & Weave, Fall 2022 Continue reading

  • In The Mansion’s Living Room

    Moonlight glistens through the window.I hum walking past it.My nightgown flutters with every step. A chickadee in a cage.Metallic bars bathed in blood.It sits on a swing of bones. You sit on a quilted chair.A blazing fire illuminates your face.A… Continue reading

  • A Quiet Thirst

    The earth cracks open,a breath held too long.Dust rises in silence,settling on the bones of rootsthat no longer stretch to drink. The sky, once a weight of bluewears thin,The sun carving its nameinto the skin of the rock. We wait… Continue reading