POETRY
A question for T.S. Eliot
Illustration | Jennifer Fong Li Mr. Eliot, sir, you who taught me about men, and death, and growing old, About cold comings, balding Magi, and trousers rolled, Time has demanded of me to wonder, having lost the innocence of a kid, Time to ask you, ‘Why do dads die, like ...
A Limp Hand Extending from the Body on the Couch
Illustration | Seavey van Walsum I can’t reach the Sediments settling in The lining between my Daydreams and responsibilities, Every gap a yawning canyon, Repetitions of “Tomorrow, I’ll–” And it’s still today in spite of Night and the Glue leaking from my dirty pores, For every unclean, slow dream sticks ...
Spell Jars
Illustration | Seavey van Walsum “Put it in a jar and it’s a spell,” the saying goes. Withered flowers for resurrecting memories that outlive the bouquet. Pebbles for conjuring a granola sunburn on rainy days in the city. I put everything in jars. This room that holds all my joy, ...
On poetry, pandemics, and path-finding
Editor’s note
Quarter note rest
Gap yearsignifyinga slippery head,the lost chip in bedsheets’ seams,the honest grip of academic burden—with ego death, its loss, a dream! This odd twist;leaving a chippy mind to dampen,leavings of proteins unfolded,heaving from kin’s guilt, this damned sinblistered, known as the “son” who folded. Yet, there’s glister inuncombed, uncoiffed, and voided ...
Disclarity
I feel like —I don’t really know how to explain it, but —I feel likeThat glossy layer of condensation On a cheap scoop of ice cream.Strawberry or chocolate or something,The sheen, its weak shell coats the dessertJust before it melts I also feel likeOne of those unrecognizably smattered and batteredBits of ...
Untitled
Untitled Words and Photo by Max Lees The hunting party sets out Into the mudsucking swamp stumbling through thick fog and shooting at answers to a question they’re still looking for Carrying black-and-white binoculars, chanting to a two- beat stomp chasing ghosts and waving excitedly at some object in the ...
The Bakery Thief
Words by Milo ZhuVisuals by Yoon-Ji Kweon Note From the Poet: I wrote this poem to criticize the misogynistic men who sexualize others’ bodies, and the ways in which women are subjected to objectification. This poem references sexual assault and depicts some heavy topics that may bring discomfort. If you ...
Marie
Words by Anna SokolovaVisuals by Seavey van Walsum told them to let us eat,right? How did the papers frame it—queen of depravity? Opaqueas a mannequin in her skirts (though the libelles showed the world:this succubus won’t let us eat),she takes her last walk. Justice waitsfor the future her head obscures. ...
June
June Words by Rion Levy Illustration by Natalie Song I prefer my peaches without their skins Because then I’m left to only chew The sweetness of their flesh While their skins and pits can run and hide. I prefer my people, too, like I prefer my peaches I want to ...