Worse Sights by Dr. LaPadula

As Dr. LaPadula explains in a footnote, “This piece is the opening to a longer collection–Worse Sights is the title of said collection, which does not yet exist. It is from Homer’s Odyssey: “Be strong, saith my heart; I am a soldier; I have seen worse sights than this.” It was my goal this academic year to write a horror story, because I never write fiction. I may or may not have achieved my goal with this piece, which I wrote in an online class called “Writing the Uncanny.” But I did not write in my preferred form–poetry–which is growth for me as a writer!” We hope you not only enjoy reading this piece but are inspired by this undertaking and a brave step taken by Dr. LaPadula to engage in a new medium and form of writing. You will be left with more questions than answers at the end of this dark and quietly unnerving piece. Thank you, Dr La! — Sophie Hu, WAM Intern.