I am a divine thing
writhing under the sycophant
reality TV show storybook imagination–
I was given by my mother.
Kiss the light,
she reads while I tumble through
my skin to the knots on the cord
that spell “I am apricity” in Morse code.
It is all happening below my skin.
Tendons of godliness, brevity.
And whenever he –- Richard Powers – —
visits me to tell the story of my ancestors,
my grandparents confront him with a sterile box.
They forget to invite the blue-winged wasp in for the winter.
“Kiss the light”, she trembles.
I am a divine thing.
Alisa Oates is a current student at Washington University in St. Louis, where she is pursuing a degree in Earth and Environmental Science. Originally from rural Missouri, Alisa’s writing is deeply influenced by the landscapes and experiences of her upbringing. Through her work, she explores the intersections of nature, place, and personal history. Alisa can be found on Instagram at @alisa.oates.
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