Inside the trap, I spend weeks remodeling the haven you’ll haunt. Not for the joy of it, but for the wonder that keeps snapping my neck. Come December, there’s a … Continue reading Love Letter from Inside Fatherhood by Fritz Ward
After Kenji Takezo fell from a wave, The turbulence of whitewash confused His sense of direction. He breathed in When he should have Held tight. By accident, he swallowed The … Continue reading The Ocean Inside Him by Rick Noguchi
The whiskey stink of rot has settled in the garden, and a burst of fruit flies rises when I touch the dying tomato plants. Still, the claws of tiny yellow … Continue reading September Tomatoes by karina Borowicz
It gets messy underneath the veilwhen the strength it takes to becan zap the moisture from your skin,and all you want is to be held to thebreast of a beautiful … Continue reading Lord Knows by Kwame Oposu-Duku
In vain your bangles cast Charmed circles at my feet; I am Abiku, calling for the first And the repeated time. Must I weep for goats and cowries For … Continue reading Abiku by Wole Soyinka
Here, in this darkened room of this old house, I sit beside the fire. I hear again, Within, the scutter where the mice carouse, Without, the gutter dropping with the … Continue reading The Haunted By John Masefield
They jumped from the burning floors— one, two, a few more, higher, lower. The photograph halted them in life, and now keeps them above the earth toward the earth. Each … Continue reading Photograph from September 11 by Wislawa Szymborska
By Maya Angelou FOR DAVID P—B The eye follows, the landSlips upward, creases down, forms The gentle buttocks of a young Giant. In the nestle,Old adobe bricks, washed of Whiteness, … Continue reading California Prodigal
By Walt Whitman Beat! beat! drums!—blow! bugles! blow!Through the windows—through doors—burst like a ruthless force,Into the solemn church, and scatter the congregation,Into the school where the scholar is studying,Leave not … Continue reading Beat! Beat! Drum!
By Lisa Low Every June I think I might stop shavingmy armpits. Every summer’shalf-assed attempt involves partieswith my arms clamped shutlike when I was in middle school, afraidmy deodorant wasn’t … Continue reading Ode to Armpit Air
By Jinhao Xie in my dream. I hold hands with my brother.we are both boys: he looks atme through his thick lashes. a squint.three years of time travel, between him … Continue reading Moonlight
Jinhao Xie Your grandmother’s grave nestlesin the nest of mountains’ thick hair.You try to name every tree that lookslike your grandmother. A hurricanefound underneath your seat is your uncle’sreckless driving … Continue reading Chocolate
