Origin Story
︎︎︎ Alana Joblin Ain
︎ Sept 12, 2026
I come from exploding bottles of seltzer and uncontrollable fits of laughter from high-cheeked matriarchs who left drafts of suicide notes in their desk drawers. From Manic Panic and purple
8-hole Doc Martens and jeans several sizes too large to hide any trace of my developing form on the way to the orthodontist. I am from everything tastes different, especially the tomatoes and the bailiff who said Bring down the Jew as my uncle walked handcuffed past his father and my dad asked later Why didn’t you say something? Born from the runner-up of the Farrah Fawcett look-alike contest and speech therapist turned Shaman and crystal amulets strung in the moonlight. I was created from more magic than sadness, more mercy than loss—but sometimes it is a tight race. Descended from You can’t keep a good woman down and daydreams that take over the whole damn day. I am shooting stars across the black evening sky and Now that’s a horse of a different color. Prayers recited in the exact same order each night and Put another dime in the jukebox baby. The mythology of Manhattan and deals I made with God in the desert that I still need to make good on.
Alana Joblin Ain is a poet residing in Austin, Texas.