Friday, August 22, 2025

A Modern Woman; Escaping the Yellow Wallpaper

 By Natalie Scott  

After Charlotte Perkins Gilman

-

 I’ve been crawling around in 

  The walls, like a feral creature–

Like the woman behind

The yellow wallpaper, peeking through the 

Holes. But you’ve suspected nothing,

                  heard nothing,

     And that makes me angry.

You see no reason for concern and,

You dismiss my discontent,

     And that makes me hungry. 

 

  So I guess I’ll just have to sneak up on you

     Perhaps when you’re sleeping on

     Your freshly made bed, your head resting

   Blissfully on the ruffled pillows.

I’ll burrow my way out of the woodwork, contorting

My body to escape, and I’ll pounce

          Onto your chest,

Sinking my claws deep into

 Your skin, leaving jagged pink markings

  On soft flesh. You’ll wake in terror, 

Hazel eyes wide, clutching with your fingers at

The linen sheets.

       I’ll run out in a flash, escaping 

Through the bedroom window.

 

           Maybe then you’ll believe me, but

     It’ll be too late– You’ll never see me again.

 

I’ll be long gone,

 

            creeping by daylight.

 

 

About the Author 


Natalie Scott (she/her) is a young, queer creative writer with a passion for all things feral and feminist. Outside of school, she is a barista, and a maker of all things: drawings, paintings, jewelry, the list goes on and on. She graduated from ICC in May of 2025 and will be transferring to ISU in the fall, where she will study English-creative writing. 


Featured Post

Table of Contents

Volume IV, Issue 2 August 2025 From the Editor Artwork Home Sweet Home by Timothy Angel The Wounded Man by William Douglas Pet...