Living… by Davon Ansley

You know that feeling when you’re just… living? Not the big moments, not the earth-shattering events, but the quiet in-betweens that make up most of our days? Davon Ansley’s debut poetry collection “Living…” captures those moments with a raw honesty that’ll make you stop and go, “Huh. Yeah. That’s exactly it.”

This isn’t your grandma’s flowery verse (though hey, grandma’s poetry has its place too). Ansley serves up 100 poems across 10 themes, each one a little snapshot of modern life. It’s like flipping through a photo album, except instead of awkward family portraits, you get glimpses into the soul of what it means to be human today.

The Everyday Extraordinary

Ansley has this knack for finding the profound in the mundane. Take his poem “Thankful” – it starts with just waking up and seeing another day. Simple, right? But then he builds on that, reminding us to appreciate having a safe place to sleep, clothes to wear, food in the kitchen. It’s like he’s gently shaking you by the shoulders, saying “Hey, look around! This ordinary stuff? It’s actually kind of amazing.”

It’s not all sunshine and rainbows though. Ansley doesn’t shy away from the tough stuff. In “Harsh Reality,” he dives into those moments when we mess up big time and have to face the music. It’s uncomfortable, sure, but also weirdly comforting to know we’re not alone in screwing up sometimes.

A Voice for the Voiceless

One of the things that really struck me about “Living…” is how Davon Ansley gives voice to people and experiences that don’t always get the spotlight in poetry. There’s a whole section called “Youth” that captures those awkward, confusing, and sometimes beautiful moments of growing up. “Teen Parent” hit me particularly hard—it’s this empathetic look at both the young mother and father, acknowledging their fear and uncertainty without judgment.

Ansley also has this way of addressing serious topics with a light touch. “Black Women” is a standout piece, offering an apology for societal mistreatment while also celebrating their strength and beauty. It’s not preachy, just… real. You can feel the sincerity behind every word.

The Rhythm of Life

Now, I’m not gonna lie—Ansley’s style in “Living…” took me a minute to get into. It’s not your typical rhyme scheme or meter. At first, I was like, “Wait, is this even poetry?” But the more I read, the more I got it. His words have this natural rhythm to them, like someone just talking to you, but with these little moments of beauty that sneak up on you.

Take “The Beat” in the Music section. Ansley writes:

“Before you hear a word from an artist it can be the beat that pulls you in.
Rather it be something fast and catchy, something that could make you tap your feet.
Or it be something smooth and melodic.
That makes you want to slowly dance with somebody.”

See what I mean? It’s conversational, but there’s this flow to it that just works. And then BAM—he hits you with an image like slowly dancing with somebody, and suddenly you’re right there in the moment.

From Page to Heart

I’ll be honest, poetry collections can be hit or miss for me. Sometimes they’re so abstract I feel like I need a PhD to understand them. Other times they’re just… kind of boring? But Davon Ansley’s “Living…” feels different. It’s accessible without being simplistic. Relatable without being cliché.

Ansley has this way of articulating feelings and experiences that I’ve had but never quite knew how to put into words. Reading “A Safe Place” in the Love section, I was nodding along the whole time. That feeling of coming home after a rough day and just needing someone to hold you? He nails it.

And it’s not just the big emotional stuff. Ansley captures those little everyday annoyances too. “Patience” perfectly encapsulates that frantic, stressed-out energy we all get sometimes when things aren’t moving fast enough. You know that person who’s always yelling “Hurry up!”? Yeah, we’ve all been that person at some point.

A Journey Through Life

One of the coolest things about “Living…” is how Davon Ansley organizes the collection. The 10 sections feel like a journey through different aspects of life. We start with “Energy,” all about the vibes and attitudes we bring to the world. Then we move through youth, life experiences, challenges, and changes… it’s like a roadmap of existence.

By the time you get to the final section, “Loyalty,” you feel like you’ve been on this wild ride through the human experience. And Ansley saves some of his most powerful stuff for the end. “Thank You” is this beautiful ode to people who do good in the world without expecting recognition. It left me with this warm, hopeful feeling—like maybe we’re all gonna be okay after all.

The Nitty Gritty

Alright, let’s talk nuts and bolts for a sec. “Living…” clocks in at just over 100 pages, which feels just right. It’s substantial enough to sink your teeth into, but not so long that it gets overwhelming. The layout is clean and simple, letting the words speak for themselves.

“Living…” is Davon Ansley’s debut collection, which honestly kind of blows my mind. There’s a maturity and depth to his observations that you don’t always see in first books. It’ll be interesting to see how his style develops in future works.

If you’re into poets who tackle everyday life with a fresh perspective, you might also dig writers like Rupi Kaur or Nayyirah Waheed. Ansley’s got his own unique voice, but there’s a similar accessibility and emotional honesty there.

The Verdict

What Davon Ansley has created here in “Living…” is a deeply human, relatable poetry collection that speaks to the experiences we’re all living through right now. It’s the kind of book you can pick up when you’re feeling a little lost or overwhelmed by life, flip to any page, and find something that resonates. It’s comfort food for the soul, but with enough substance to make you think.

For a debut collection, “Living…” shows incredible promise. Ansley has a keen eye for the details that make up a life and a gift for articulating complex emotions in accessible ways. I’m genuinely excited to see what he does next.

So yeah, if you’re looking for a poetry collection that feels less like homework and more like a heart-to-heart with a really insightful friend, give “Living…” a shot. It might just make you look at your own life a little differently. And in a world that can feel increasingly disconnected, isn’t that exactly what we need?