POETRY

Aluminum Rib words by Malaika Mitraillustration by Patrick Ignasiak   I, a servantof titanium skyhave ground soil to rootin rabid search;beneath the iron horizon, amongstclay-filled waves —I build her bodyout of the dustleft from the crushing of a geological age.Her gold veinstiptoe under skinas xylem inobedient trunk — fat toes clutchingloam beforeshe too ...

Telecommunication words by Patrick Ignasiakillustration by Cameron Ashley Spasms, into you, the not-allzero fitted to onenothing you can see, you-branchof spidered out hypertextmothering yourself: silicon chips, set out to eatyour way outsidemicrovoid, its syntaxdithering off, passes through,scatters; you redressmy mistress’ eyes inliquidcrystal thinness.                   ...

bluebirds weeping words by Anemone Van Leeuwenillustration by Maria Vidal Valdespino   The city dreams of what bluebirds are,Of shadows gone missing from a stained, spotlit sky.It dreams of a ghost slipping between skyscrapers, trembling beneath the traffic lights—A ghost building nests in the dark.Visions of a something well in the eyes ...

Mirror words by Zoe Smith Creppillustration by Anella Schabler When a preacher searches for God’s wisdom,He looks in the mirror and sees prayers formingOn the lips of his reflection.Calling to me was your mouth,Releasing a never-ending stream of thought,One consciousness to another as we spoke through the glass.I’ll never forget the ...

Concentric Circles Working words by Patrick Ignasiakillustration by Cameron Ashley                                        out of every                             I wish it’ll turn    ...

food poisoning words by Jeanne Polochanskyillustration by Raquel Lewin it retches me                 mute percolation a space in my diaphragm, excess,yolk flakes scraped to the edge ofthe place:white china at the core something’s off in the toast I had for breakfast,I think, ormaybe the ...

Chinook’s Gifts words by Chloe Bantle illustration by Chelsey Wang She arrived right on time Cradling frosted memories Trailing bright yellow leaves Smiling like children do On their first day of school She gave me a box Dusted in last winter’s snow And in her whistling voice, she asked: Vas-tu ...

awful words by Marie Kinderman illustration by Ashley Cameron spoony guise pausing on you through the looking glass to think my path lined with people as admirable as almost awful: eyes bigger than soup spoons awful about the way I leave people                 ...

11 PM Elegy words by Max Friedman-Coleillustration by Cameron Ashley And the buildings are breathing like beastsAnd time is imprisoned in aspicAnd the streetlights stare down in shameAnd the ever-beating tide of the city is beginning to ebb. And the car carapaces are funhouse mirrorsAnd the stumbling students huddle like ...

The Uncomplicated Darkness words by Sophie Esther Ramsey illustration by Chelsey Wang I stand knocking behind this door,  nails wedged into one breathless demand: that the pitiless wood keep me inert no more and release me from time’s hands. The cold taught me all I know, paralysing my pleading limbs. ...