‘Forgotten Histories from Ancient Texts’, ‘Peddler of Lies’, ‘Lux Leaena’

Ashley Williamson is an American poet living in the inspiring English Lake District. She holds an Undergraduate of Creative Writing at Oxford University. When not writing, she works as an industrial radiographer for a small family business in the aerospace industry. She wanders the Lake District, rock collecting and painting. Her poetry is featured in Ephemera, Liminal Spaces, Cathexis Northwest Press, La Piccioletta Barca, The Festival Review, and others.

Forgotten Histories from Ancient Texts

{Fragment 1}

The universe is a velvet kingdom
Filled with steam and mirages
And conversations between light and shadow
(being and unbeing)
Matter is Energy’s daydream
As Energy is Matter’s heart

{Fragment 2}

Do not be afraid
There is no such thing as the Void
All is filled and all is wanting

{Fragment 3}

Each one who ever was share
the same spirals of ingredients
reflecting galactic helixes
filled with steam and mirages

Peddler of Lies

Lies, lies
You can get them here
All kinds of lies,
I make ‘em fresh right here.

Oh, you don’t think you need them?
I hardly think you’ll do without.
How about a pack of

Penny lies,
We have your
“I’ll be right theres,”
your “it’s alrights,”
your “how interestings,”
your “beg your pardons...”

Oh, stopped you in your tracks, have I?
Let me tell you a secret.
I myself, I never lie.
Don’t sample the goods myself, you see.

Come, now,
See what else I’ve cooked up.
Sweet lies,
Whoppers,
Convenient excuses,
Self-delusions,
Embellishments big and small.

All the way up to niche items
statistical fudging
Financial finagling
False advertisement
They’re not everyone’s cup of tea.

If you’re willing to pay,
Behind the curtain, I’ve got
propagandas and grand conspiracies,
I’ll show them just to you.

Ah, you’ve made your choice, I see?
My, my, what a situation
you’ve got yourself in.

How delicious.
Of course, as standard,
regret comes free with every purchase.

Lux Leaena

All this gladness is roaring
A protest against darkness
Fireworks in the abyss
Confetti riding curls of smoke
I am a lioness of the light
Stalking shadows
Swallowing them whole

Ashley Williamson is an American poet living in the inspiring English Lake District. She holds an Undergraduate of Creative Writing at Oxford University. When not writing, she works as an industrial radiographer for a small family business in the aerospace industry. She wanders the Lake District, rock collecting and painting. Her poetry is featured in Ephemera, Liminal Spaces, Cathexis Northwest Press, La Piccioletta Barca, The Festival Review, and others.