The Eckleburg Project

Texas A&M's Official Literary Journal

The Eckleburg Project is the official undergraduate literary journal of Texas A&M University. We are an undergraduate organization featuring student poetry, prose, and art. Now with thirteen issues under our belt, we started with the idea that art should be free and easily accessible to the community.

Our staff is composed of undergraduate students and editors who select pieces to be published semesterly under a process of blind review. For information on how to join, go to our apply page. For information on how to submit, go to our submissions page. For general inquiries, or just to say hello, contact our organizational email at theeckleburgproject@gmail.com.

As always, we thank you for your support as we continue to foster art here at Texas A&M.

Clockwork girl by Damaris Martinez

She sleeps, 

sleeps 

until she can’t.

She’s afraid to wake up. 


She’s awake

awake

until she’s not. 

She’s afraid to fall asleep.


Why are you afraid, 

clockwork girl?


To fall asleep when your

Inner workings, 

Are overworking.


To be awake, 

Depart from your night(mares)dreams, 

It leaves an ache. 


Trying to cross from one

State of being to another, 

It leaves you alone to face reality, 

A new day (night). 



Grab your sword

 clockwork girl. 


Don't be afraid 

To cut between the veil of the two.


You are burning,  

Sweltering,  

Malfunctioning, 

clockwork girl. 



Your gears, your wheels,  

your  steel,

Everything in you,  

Is overworking to the bone.



You’re inner mechanisms are

Screaming at you to be 

Submerged in the calm



Cool waters



They wish to be drowned so that  

It could be ever so quiet

In you. 


Listen to them.

Before they drown you too



Swim,

clockwork girl.

They siege to be

submerged in your tears.  


Don’t be afraid to live,

clockwork girl. 


© Texas A&M The Eckleburg Project, 2023