Chicken Fight S.K. Taggart __________ I wrote this with footballon in the other room,a masculinity I have forgottenthe rules to no longer does it serveme to pretend to be that boyin football padson a sepia fall afternoonthrowing my body againstother, more committed boys I think you understand mein this, and…
Read MoreDallas Raquel Klein __________ Queer Lineage Ashes, Stardust Look at Us Crawling Out the Mud Dust, dust pecked the open Gorge like motherkissing your splintered feet. Like you were playingtoo hard, and the dry grass laughed thistlesinto your soles. You cried out, but she liftedyou into her arms. You were…
Read MoreAsphodels, How I’d Like To Be Buried With Them Corinne Klosinski __________ Within the wan and weeping vale Where twilight tarnishes the day,There trembles one tenebrous bloom: The asphodel of unanswered ache. Pale as a patient phantom’s palm, It lifts its languid, lilting throat,Drinking the dim and distant dew Of mercies never meant for…
Read MorePornographic Poetry Template Daniel Edward Moore __________ My professor said I might be the first to be consumed by delicious verbs layered between leather syntax and inches of cream before it melts down tall hard peaks beneath a dark hairy sky. But what if I’m just a studly nerd asking a pronoun…
Read MoreRicardo Moran __________ What I’m Thinking on October 25, 1986 Someone said they saw Sigmund the Sea Monster waddlingon Imperial Avenue just over the railroad tracksnear the Winchell’s Donut House.Janet Jackson’s “Nasty” bumping on the Mighty 690,but it was just prima chasing the paleterodressed like a mermaid for Halloween. And…
Read MoreMissy’s Animal Rescue Bryn Gribben __________ Missy herself sits behind the desk, loggingadoptions, barely looks up from the screen.“You can just open up the cageand pet them, if you want.” Frowsy-haired, her giant breasts are wet from doing flea dips, “forty done already—twenty left to go.” Grimy with the musk of…
Read MoreWordy Bird Emerald Fox __________ If you were a bird,Settled in perfect, pompous-Bring me a few things that I would need-We shall have tea in the morning-As we chat over business-Graven imagereading the Morning Brew with-Nothing but manners and refinement, Could instill-If you are going to be ill-tempered, take it to…
Read MoreBirdfeeding Tyler Robert Sheldon __________ after T.R. Hummer When it’s time, you haul the huge bagof birdseed from the cargo holdof your SUV and muscle it overto the new feeder, which waitsfor filling, and lift the lid and pour,the cracked black seeds spinningdeep into the heart of the cylinder,the light…
Read MoreJennifer Sepso __________ Oliver Mid-stride, he collapses— not fallen,just hungry.As dramatic asa high school productionof Romeo and Juliet.Spine long as breath, he stretches until the room pauses in respect.Deliberately he yawns: a flare of pink, a carnivorouscathedral of teeth. Then trots off, tail held high— a banner, not a question.Tucks…
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