I wrote this poem surprisingly quickly as I reflected on the movie Lars and the Real Girl, a movie that David Rubin, recently interviewed by The Creative Process, worked on as the Casting Director. I have watched this movie twice, at first just to watch Ryan Gosling in something, and was struck by the humor and deep sadness that walk hand-in-hand throughout it. It is a very gentle film and what left me particularly moved was what the movie proposed about loneliness, and so:

the real girl

when loneliness takes shape and form

she has the loveliest eyes and the sweetest breath.

she pretends acts of service.

you may know her,

laugh with her,

escape with her.

she lets you lay still with her.

when she, with lovely eyes, leaves you,

she does so by sinking deep into you;

resting in your rib cage, presiding in

your lungs. when you breathe,

you think of her.

when you breathe, it is now sweet.

her final act of service:

you now breathe.

–Joelle Saunders
Student at Fordham University majoring in International Studies
Find more of my poetry on Instagram @/speak.and.play.poetry