MEL MITCHELL
We are the kids
on the road to nowhere
Our dreams get
busted on the daily
But we find them again
come morning
Buried under a truck tire
in the neighbor’s yard
In the remains of an
abandoned hornets’ nest
In weed-ridden ditches down
long and winding country roads
And in quiet, fragile rivers
cutting through
the still soft places
of our young hearts
Our dreams rise and die
and rise again
And therein lies the one
sweetness this world has to offer
Mel Mitchell is an artist, writer, and educator whose work draws from her experiences growing up and living in the Midwest, exploring themes of memory, belonging, otherness, and the landscapes that have shaped her understanding of home. She is also exploring the intersection of spoken word and music through an ongoing collaboration with composer Chris Gibbons, with whom she has co-written lyrics for numerous songs, including “Grey River” and “Lightning Road.” Their work is available on Spotify and Bandcamp.
Author Index: Mel Mitchell
Twisted River Review ~ Issue 1: Winter 26/27