JULY 1, 2021 – JULY 31, 2021
The In Between
At times, to be alone with my thoughts
can seem a terrifying thing. You see,
my mind’s inclined to go recursive
with thought. Worries or doubts, yearning,
they way memories can overwhelm me.
And so, I approach the hour-long float—
sequestered, silent, alert—hesitant. I close
the door to the tank, turn off the lights,
and think about not thinking. My body
goes buoyant. My musings start to ebb.
I tip my head back to water’s lap and let
proprioception slip from me. It feels womb-like,
the mild warmth, how I hear my own heartbeat.
Time drifts. How to put it? Not a dream-state,
but close. Like those edge-of-sleep moments,
liminally conscious like you could
will yourself awake if you’d wanted but instead
you hover in the in between. Total calm. Ease.
After the soft lights come up, I carry a bit of bliss
with me, how the float has soothed me, body and mind.
Bio
After working at technology start-ups for seven years, Kelsey Hennegen mustered up the courage to abandon the safe trajectory guaranteed by Silicon Valley and embrace a path of creativity and curiosity. St. John’s College brought her to Santa Fe, where she has lived for three years. Her academic studies span Liberal Arts and Philosophy, Eastern Classics, Sanskrit, and Literature. Her poetry has appeared in Narrative Magazine, Santa Fe Literary Review, and Whitefish Review, among others; her work has also been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. She is currently an Artist in Residence with the Historic Santa Fe Foundation.