Oppenheimer
by Isabella Sager
Shepherd University
Isabella Sager is a senior English major at Shepherd University, WV with a concentration in literature and a minor in modern languages. She is currently Senior Editor of Sans Merci, Shepherd University's student-led literary and arts magazine, in which her prose piece, "Garden Goodbye," and poem, "Gold Rush," have been published in its two most recent volumes. From Harpers Ferry, WV, much of Isabella's writing consists of scribbles inspired by her experiences and environmental influences.
Oppenheimer
I’m just a modern man. Riding the rocket
that crashes headfirst
into your concaved chest.
Piercing the flag, a picture of my teeth,
between the breathing
chapped moon craters.
And like a fire hydrant, my dog will take
a piss on it. Because he
is my inventor Daedalus.
And I was too desperate for the stars. I
wanted to fly into the
sweet jelly of your spine.
Instead you gave me the soot caked in
the bottom of your boots
that I keep taking willingly.
Interview with the Poet
1. What was your inspiration for this piece?
Like with most of my poetry, "Oppenheimer" is inspired by relationships and the disappointments that often accompany the ones that aren't worth keeping. Despite these disappointments, there is always a strange desire to hold on, and this poem aims to illustrate that tension.
2. What is your creative process? (How do you go about writing or creating?)
My poems are usually born out of one line, phrase, or image that pops into mind that I luckily have the time to copy on a scrap of paper or in my phone. I like to write my poems based off that one idea, seeing where the journey takes me. Sometimes I write multiple poems based off the idea, other times it's one poem written in a single sitting. The language of a poem is always preeminent for me--I typically view structure or form as only the vessel for my language.
3. What are some influences on your artistic process?
Currently, my greatest inspiration is Cynthia Cruz. Her blend of ethereal, clinical, and harsh imagery is always a striking force to me and has a had a great influence on my writing, specifically my poetry. Other poets that have influenced my work are Sylvia Plath, Eileen Myles, Kaveh Akbar, and Ocean Vuong. Outside the realm of poetry, I am also influenced through every relationship I encounter--from strangers I pass on the street to those I love.
4. Is there anything more you’d like our readers/viewers to know about you or your work?
Much of my poetry grows out of loss, and this poem being published for others to read only solidifies my hope that loss is not an empty vessel but a place for growth.