Self-portrait as Stardew Valley farmer

After Jon Lemay

At the age of fourteen, I transformed myself into a new girl:

Purple-haired. Wide-eyed. I moved into a cabin inside of a town 

So far away even the rivers did not recognize my name. 

This is the definition of re-invention, I think. In the mornings, 

I break open soil and pry out geodes from worms, thinking,

This could be in a museum someday. All my afternoons whittle down 

Into sunlight reflected off the waters as I sit by the river, fishing. 

In these streams, I learn patience. However, when the seedlings ripen 

Into parsnips and cauliflowers, I don’t think about the fact that they could

Be in a museum but instead the number on the check I’ll receive in 2 weeks

From some city grocer who packaged my products in plastic, put them

In a wooden crate display, and labeled it fresh or organic or something similar.