Venom by Michelle Eccellente Stevenson
Standing in the checkout line, I waved hello, but I didn’t recognize you. Once amicable, previously approachable, you were not there. Disturbed, but not surprised, I recalled hints of your path towards a closed-mind. Over time, in the company of others, marching to the beat of exclusion. Tromping on the ideals of inclusivity. […]
Lost in Urban Landscaping #2 by Yrik Max Valentonis
I stutter out children’s verses in my Grandparents’ tongue strung on genealogical trees, the curses of sins of fathers and wars, cremated kins of history floating in a sea of blood angry adolescent words, small scale genocide back turned and eyes closed a simple relocation & once again alone Eating all ancestors sins to […]
St. Jerome’s Blues by Christian Garduno
It’s travelling to my heart and the diagnosis, it doesn’t look good It’s melting into my veins and the prognosis, it doesn’t look good I crawled my way to Saint Jerome he gave me a carafe of red and sent me stumbling home And the next time I see Saint Jerome I’m going to crack […]
Emily’s Corset by Stephanie Saywell
Before ballet, Emily pulls off her shirt and all I see is white brocade, six metal busks – a dainty spine sealing up her stomach, bulletproof. She presents her back, her oxytocin formula tattoo peeking over the seam. My fingers are there before me, hooked through the corded bunny ears. I unbow and […]
Ammunition by Victoria Ruiz
It has taken two years to name the grain of weight unloading within a mile of our home- steadfast pistol unmistaken for the fourth of July. A night howl ricochet- our necks no longer turn. Two nights ago it was Camden- North Thomas was in broad daylight. I don’t want to shape that sound […]
