SALEM

Katie Watson (she/her)

​Any variation from Puritan and Village expectations, particularly mental illness and abnormal social behavior, was understood to be the Devil’s influence.

one half apathy and one half longing
i forget i’m not everyone else
gravity will shift between standing and falling
believing i’m stable until my chest caves in

i’ve learned the rules and i play my part
indistinguishable and honest in a careful balance
hoping no one will pick me apart
watching them miss all the truths just out of sight

but the balance is failing
and the mask is grating
i’m not sure how much longer i’ll last
until one day the floor stops moving

and i’m stuck out in the open.
​