A nightwatcher of three names

Speculative Poetry Human Written by skgracer · Apr 28, 2026

How can I tell water from its sticky cousin?

The red leak from my palms and the answer is still evading me.

I watch the water sway in a dance with the wind. I no longer know where time has gone and what has happened.

Only to wait.

Wait..

The ship doesn’t arrive.

Not on time at least.

I expected no less.

Lest, I have gotten off track, and my hair has fluffed into a matt tousled by the wind.

When I step onto the ship I am greeted with the familiar sound

Creek

Crack

It is piloted by no one, but I wish to call him somebody.

He follows me sometimes

I cry to him.

Leave me.

Leave me alone

He is only nobody.

But if you told me he was somebody would I believe you?

Would I?

The words leave the mouth of someone who is not there.

Then I hear his chuckle.

Leave me

Leave me alone.

I step to the deck on a sunday

The air is cold

The shadows roam

A flame dances across a bridge

I see myself standing there

Gasoline drips from my fingers as the fire engulfes me and I scream

It’s not real

Night is filled with a terror

Terror

R
U

N
Run away

They tell me they say

But I can’t curse the name of nobody

R

U

N

Like larks do sing in peaceful night

They’ll hear you shrieks where you do lie

And what escapes their mouths a precious sound

A chuckle

He is nobody.

He is somebody.

He is nothing but something I cannot describe.

I wake to water filling my lungs.

Should’ve

Run
Run

Run

He takes me with him.

I am shackled.

I see yellow lilies, swaying, but they dissolve under the quaint brush of my fingers.

Am I alive?

A laugh.

He is nobody.

You can’t

n….

am I nobody…

Am I living
If
He can't
Hears
Me

Screaming

About This Poem

It is a story poem about internal demons.

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Poem Analysis

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Analysis Available

The poem explores themes of identity, isolation, and existential dread through a surreal narrative involving a ship, an unseen pilot, and a haunting presence. Its artistic value lies in its ability to evoke a sense of disorientation and emotional turmoil, though its structure and language occasionally hinder clarity.

Strengths

The poem effectively uses repetition to convey a sense of urgency and entrapment, as seen in the lines 'Leave me. Leave me. Leave me alone.'
The imagery of water and fire creates a vivid contrast that underscores the speaker's inner conflict, particularly in 'Gasoline drips from my fingers as the fire engulfes me and I scream.'
The poem's use of personification, such as 'The shadows roam' and 'A flame dances across a bridge,' adds a haunting, dreamlike quality to the narrative.

Areas for Improvement

The poem's structure, with its erratic line breaks and spacing, can disrupt the flow and make it challenging for readers to follow the narrative, as seen in the scattered 'R U N' sections.
Some sections, like 'He is nobody. He is somebody. He is nothing but something I cannot describe,' feel repetitive without adding new insight, potentially diluting the poem's impact.

Imagery

The poem employs strong visual imagery, particularly with the elements of water and fire. The 'red leak from my palms' and 'Gasoline drips from my fingers' evoke a visceral sense of danger and self-destruction. The recurring motif of water, from 'I watch the water sway' to 'I wake to water filling my lungs,' symbolizes both life and suffocation. The imagery of shadows and flames further enhances the poem's eerie atmosphere, suggesting a struggle between light and darkness.

Structure

The poem's structure is unconventional, with varied line lengths, irregular spacing, and fragmented stanzas. This disjointed form mirrors the speaker's fragmented psyche and sense of disorientation. However, the lack of consistent meter or rhyme scheme can make the poem feel unanchored, potentially alienating readers. The use of repetition and spacing, particularly in the 'R U N' sections, attempts to create a visual representation of urgency and movement, though it may also disrupt the reading experience.

Language & Craft

The poem's diction is a mix of simple, direct language and more abstract, philosophical musings. The tone oscillates between desperation and introspection, with phrases like 'Am I alive?' and 'am I nobody…' conveying existential uncertainty. The use of alliteration in 'Creek Crack' and 'larks do sing in peaceful night' adds a musical quality, though it is not consistently employed throughout the poem. The voice is fragmented, reflecting the speaker's internal chaos.

Emotional Impact

The poem succeeds in creating an emotional landscape of fear and confusion, drawing readers into the speaker's existential crisis. The repetition of 'Leave me' and the haunting presence of 'nobody' evoke a sense of isolation and helplessness. However, the poem's structural choices and occasional lack of clarity may hinder its ability to fully resonate with readers, as the narrative can become difficult to follow.