If you wanted to disappear, where would you go?
Would you run to a city?
Tall buildings.
Busy streets.
Many, many people,
All very quickly going
Their own busy way.
Can one disappear in a city?
If you wanted to disappear, where would you go?
Would you run to the seashore?
Empty stretches of sand.
Crashing waves.
Busy shore-birds running
In and out,
Out and in.
Can one disappear at the seashore?
If you wanted to disappear, where would you go?
Would you run to the wilderness?
Towering mountains.
Dense woods,
Dark in their green-ness.
Empty lands full of
Watching, wild eyes.
Can one disappear in the wilderness?
If you wanted to disappear, where would you go?
Would you run deep into the country?
Small towns.
Plowed fields.
More cows than people.
Neighbors helping neighbors;
And they know you’re not “from here.”
Can one disappear deep in the country?
If you wanted to disappear,
Where could you go?
Where no one knows you.
Where no one can find you.
Where no one’s life touches yours.
Can one disappear
Anywhere?
About the Creator
Laura DePace
Retired teacher, nature lover, aspiring writer driven by curiosity and “What if?” I want to share my view of the fascinating, complex world of nature. I also love creating strong characters and interesting worlds for them to live in.




Comments (3)
This was lonely and thoughtful piece! Maybe disappearing isn’t about a place. Maybe it’s a longing to be unseen but understood, and that’s the hardest thing to find anywhere.✨
I don't know. I liked your exploration of all the options though.
Beautifully done. I would answer that you could disappear, but as your poem elegantly proves, it would be short lived