Spring 2023 Magazine — Disaster

There’s a Baby Within the Beast words by Kalliopé Anvar McCallillustration by Chelsea Wang          For the children of Iran. I wrote this poem after I saw a baby in a demonstration in Toronto while protesting the murder of Jîna Mahsa Aminî . The protest was very difficult emotionally; everyone was crying, screaming, grieving in

The End. words by Rachel Suginphoto by Kelsey Phung It was all so perfect once, I can barely remember it now.   Apparently it makes me stronger,  “Disaster grows character” But the only thing I see sprouting are weeds. And not even the pretty ones—no dandelions,  Just regular old grass.   It’s all so gut-punching

all into one words and illustration by Ella Spitzer-Stephan The skin of a peach is so soft, too soft softer than mine, softer than the hair that  grows behind a cat’s ear— Humanise the flesh of a fruit  recognise it as something equally as living as moving as my legs—your arms.  Its blood runs in

pyrrhus retires from war words by Namah Jaggiillustration by Jennifer Fong-Li “If we are victorious in one more battle with the Romans, we shall be utterly ruined.”  –Plutarch   i love like a broken thermostat. like it has no repercussions, like we have gas to last a lifetime and the winter is invincible. i promise

PARTY POST-MORTEM words by Brooke Collinsillustration by Natalie Song The party passed peacefully In the late hours of the night. A friend of a friend clinging to the dark, Swaddled by the door.     Day breaks And we emerge From       Glitter-stained pillowcases, Hanging over each other on the 502, Snaking towards a diner reeking