Collin College: DigitalCommons@Collin

Artwork from the 2025 edition of Forces on display in the Art Gallery.https://digitalcommons.collin.edu/forcesexhibition2025/1008/thumbnail.jp

FORCES - 09

Artwork from the 2025 edition of Forces on display in the Art Gallery.https://digitalcommons.collin.edu/forcesexhibition2025/1021/thumbnail.jp

FORCES - 22

Artwork from the 2025 edition of Forces on display in the Art Gallery.https://digitalcommons.collin.edu/forcesexhibition2025/1031/thumbnail.jp

FORCES - 32

Charcoal - 2025 18”x24” Instructor Brenda McKinney: Drawing Ihttps://digitalcommons.collin.edu/studentinvitational2025/1005/thumbnail.jp

Will, Ally

Cat Play

Hand Built Stoneware - 2024 13.5”x3.5” Instructor James Gray: Ceramics Ihttps://digitalcommons.collin.edu/studentinvitational2025/1008/thumbnail.jp

Winkler, Alex

Dr. Monty’s Gobblegum Machine

Premium Luster Print - 2024 16”x20” Instructor Lisa Means: Illustrative Photographyhttps://digitalcommons.collin.edu/studentinvitational2025/1028/thumbnail.jp

Nitz, Lydia

Mahogany Teakwood

Charcoal - 2025 18”x12” Instructor Carter Scaggs: Drawing Ihttps://digitalcommons.collin.edu/studentinvitational2025/1032/thumbnail.jp

Fowler, Meg

Mid-Key Charcoal Study

Archival Pigment Print - 2025 16”x20” Instructor Lisa Means: Portraiture Ihttps://digitalcommons.collin.edu/studentinvitational2025/1046/thumbnail.jp

Nixon, Stephany

Self-Portrait

Archival Pigment Print - 2025 16”x10” Instructor Lisa Means: Fashion Photographyhttps://digitalcommons.collin.edu/studentinvitational2025/1061/thumbnail.jp

Conley, Joshua

Winter Glam

Denney, Caitlin H.

Forces 
Volume 2025 Article 22 
5-16-2025 
Hello My Dear Friend 
Caitlin H. Denney 
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.collin.edu/forces 
Recommended Citation 
Denney, Caitlin H. (2025) "Hello My Dear Friend," Forces: Vol. 2025, Article 22. 
Available at: https://digitalcommons.collin.edu/forces/vol2025/iss1/22 
This Poem is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@Collin. It has been accepted for 
inclusion in Forces by an authorized editor of DigitalCommons@Collin. For more information, please contact 
mtomlin@collin.edu. 
3 0
Hello My Dear Friend
Caitlin H. Denney
I see the vultures have emptied you out.
You’ve lost your silhouette, and your rings have been left unkempt. 
Of course your smile is still charming,
your last sweet purr still between your teeth.
I will laze and share this conversation with you today, 
no need to sit up; your fur is stitched to the ground.
I will be back when the sun has left you ripe.
Hello, my dear friend
Nirvana has been insensitive I regard.
You’ve dragged yourself into that bed of prickled ivy, 
your eyes are hollow and sunken,
and your legs have sauntered off.
You must have been sunbathing, your guts to the sky like that. 
The rolly pollies have been brushing between your ears too, 
they’ve left a shallow entrance into your memories.
Ponder me while you hibernate under the snow.
Hello, my dear friend
Your blanket knitted of rotting pine, 
shrouded this damp warm nest of yours. 
I’ve missed you feverishly,
our last conversation could only sustain me for so long. 
These bones of yours are beautiful, laundered and ivory. 
And I adore this tree you’ve chosen to rest them on.
You’ve been in a state of quiet introspection,
your mind is clear and a brown spider has made its throne in your cranium. 
Oh, but how you have crumpled; I had to unearth your jaw before we gossiped.
Let me take you with me after we speak.
Let me cup you in my palms and bring you home. 
Let me give you the adoration you deserve.
Your body will remain in this forest and plant itself like seeds into the soil, 
left to watch over the other dear friends we will make.
hello


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