The Fate of Bodies as Explained by JoAnne, Age 4 Katie Kehoe __________ My teacher. She told. She told me about atoms. They’re smaller than this dinosaur. This marble. I lost my marble when my mom took it. She took it and she said that it was dangerous. I once…
Read MoreThe Eroding Iron of Memories Replenished Shome Dasgupta __________ for Clementine A sift through solemn eyes, the anger undoing,A turn or twist of mosaic bark upon the banks of ridden rivers, When twirling violet petals land, heavy and muddied,When a pup becomes a striped stray kitten with ceaseless paws, The…
Read MoreDorothy Chan __________ Dear Lady, Stop Gifting Me Lip Balms and Hand Cream “I don’t mean to pry, but have you ever beenon a date?” my brother’s girlfriend asks me but now I’ve lost it, because I know whatshe really means is “I’ve never heard you it’s complicated, and I…
Read MoreCL Bledsoe __________ My Brother Is Getting Old I wanted to ask what stole the brownfrom his beard, painted his thinninghair gray, stooped him over when he tries to stand? Was it the same bastard whostole my spare time and made my kneeshurt? But he always wants to talk when…
Read MoreLearning To Plant Trees With My Father While My Mother’s Ghost Sings Nome Emeka Patrick __________ i am planting trees inside a dream blur enough for even God’s eyes.in the distance, my father’s voice dances in the wind under the wingsof golden seagulls. my hands are in the soil which…
Read MoreSomeone He Loved Matthew Thorburn __________ Where did the chords goUncle Albert used toplay those chiming bellsbowls of bright waterhe raised high with both hands before his strokehis black coat always onthe silver stick pin shininghis eyes to the ceilingis that where he keeps his music we wonderedor else closed…
Read MoreAnastasia Stelse __________ Contents Most people don’t realize the stomach’spower, don’t consider it when contemplatingmurder. Forensic science has madeleaps—delving into a five hundredyear old bog body’s leathery purse—nuts, fruits, meats—we can pinpointregion, season, how long after eatingdeath occurred. We can get evencloser with the newly dead. Solidifya time of death…
Read MoreHats Off to (Marcelino) Bernal Jose Oseguera __________ We jumped out of our seatsAs high as our Nike Airs allowed us,And yelled Viva MéxicoIn spite of being reprimandedBy our teacher not to speakSpanish in the classroom,Even though it was technically recess. “El pinche indio BernalScored a hell of a goalOn…
Read MoreMicki Blenkush __________ What I Mean When I Say I’m Polishing My Glass Ball Collection Hold your anger out at arm’s length and look at it, as if it were a glass ball.Then add it to your glass ball collection. – Ron Padgett I mean the differencebetween the word light…
Read MoreRomeo Oriogun __________ Exile There’s a place I was given,A horse with its broken legs.Lord, I tend to this brief thing called life like a manCaring for a beast that eats what it loves.I can’t help this loneliness of people walking away from my eyes,It is how a city knows…
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