Their world has begun to encroach upon ours,
dripping in drop by drop,
each one filling the lungs we use to breathe.
The suffocation is imminent.
It pounds at the door,
demanding my exodus.
It blossoms red against the walls.
The revelation forces me to turn,
to look at you—
the world I’ve made for myself,
the one now ending.
My hand intertwines with yours,
our eyes meeting,
creating a brief respite.
Our legs carry us away,
not to escape,
but to moments filled with you—
to a repossession.
–
This poem is inspired by the TV show Severance, specifically the season 2 finale that aired two weeks ago. Hopefully, if you’re reading this and watch the show, you’ve already finished the last episode, and I haven’t spoiled anything for you. But if you haven’t, please stop reading now, as I’ll be going into more detail.
Season 2, personally for me, has been all over the place with the drawn-out plot points of reintegration and the teasing of Ms. Cobel dropping crucial information. Despite all of this, and I would consider those to be minor complaints, I still love the show and thought the last episode made up for all my grievances—especially the final scene, which inspired my poem. The entire episode had been building up so much tension, and when Mark finally turns to Helly and everything slows down, it perfectly captures our human need for love. Those few moments he shares with Helly are the only freedom his world affords him.
If you’ve made it this far into this blog post, please go watch Severance.
The Junction Journal 
I loved this poem and how the writer set the tone of the show Severance. I’ve never watched the show, but after reading this poem, I might have to spend my spring break binge-watching this. The imagery of something “dripping drop by drop” and “blossoming red against the walls” conveying a sense of impending doom stood out most. I also found the part where the writer locks eyes into a presumed loved one, they found a moment of rest or peace within their “suffocation.” Almost as if they’re embracing among the chaos.
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Hey Michael!
Yes, you should definitely watch the show during spring break! You also hit the themes of the poem very well-and if you liked that, you’ll certainly find those things in the show. Thank you for your kind comment!
-Cat Osorio
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