SHERRI RYAN

THE NAMING OF THINGS

Oh, Madame, you are defined
by what you are not,

nor fly nor scorpion nor made of snow—
your bony (but not bony) wings slender like banana peels lay on your back;
     do you use them, snow scorpionfly, do you use them?

The snip, snap, sniveling of your antediluvian mouthparts suggest that you do not,
     but why would God be so unfair, Madame Scorpionfly?

Is it because you’re not the fair, gracious creature as a butterfly is, is it the
     lack of obedience to that Adam who named you?

You are defined
by what you are not, Madame,
you are defined by what you are not.
 

Sherri Ryan, 22, is a recent graduate of the University of Kansas and holds a Bachelor's of Arts in English and Creative Writing. She will be pursuing an MFA in poetry this fall. Her poetry has appeared or will appear in Kiosk, Aesthetica, First Writer Magazine, VLQ, Big Muddy, Ancient Heart Magazine, and the Aurora Review. Sherri lives in Wichita, KS.