Ashley-Devon Williamston
Day 1: Denial
If our lives are indeed purposeful
Then I am not where I ought to be
I am supposed to be in the desert
A barren wasteland
With nothing but sun and lizards and
Cacti to remind me that “barren wasteland” is a slur to their neighborhood
They prefer me to use “hostile biome”
It emphasizes their resiliency
Instead, I am in my office
A habitat of my own creation
Where nothing ever dares to chide me
And I brood as I wonder if Creators ever plan vacations in other universes
If they also would pack with gleeful anticipation
Of respite from omnipotence
And rage over crushed dreams of diminution
Waves of rain thrash against the window
Of my tiny Midwestern home
Tornado sirens wail into oblivion
I am affirmed
Ashley-Devon Williamston is an casual poet from Cincinnati, OH. A cultural anthropologist by trade, they turn to the arts to express things that are not best stated in APA format, such as the delights of surprise homemade pies or perfectly symmetrical leaves. You can view those expressions by following them on Instagram @onerarecreature.
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