Tag: Poetry

Four Poems by Schyler Butler

If Forced to Join Maleatra Montanez know that he will sayyour legs burst wide like syrup pouredhis throat the drain what was he to dobut unload blame ontoyour blackstrap skinslaughter within youwhat little dignityremained, boy childof yours in the cornerforever tamed, anotherreceptacle of shame What the Devil Tells Me I wouldn’t blame your fatheror the…
Lee Patterson: Two Essay Poems for Bad Survivalist

an essay about funerals I want to set a car on fire, set guns on fire, set love on fire—grow skin so crimson we call it fire. I want to grow a more giving heart, set it on fire, watch what crumbles crumble. trumpets blare against the wall. a temple falls, a medicine cabinet cracks…
“Onyx Egg”: Poetry from The Future by Caleb Nelson

someday things will be the worst they’ve ever beennothing will be all right essentially everything will suckthe most it’s ever sucked I’ve been trying to preparefor this impending suckage by holding one blue onyxegg in my hands while I sleep under the lumberingthunder of another winter’s calibrated dream call it whatever you want it’s okay…
“all gorgeous objects found in the terror of your past”: A Poem from The Future by Jeff Pearson

1. Ongoing whispers in your head. 2. Your howls.3. All memorials for something.4. You do not succeed in hefting up this bulk of matted fur.5. The building of something and the razing of another.6. Your taste of salt unsettled. 7. You pour out hieroglyphics of a hundred handprints, / the Fremont Indian Ruins of transpired…
Akusua A. Akoto: Three Poems

Mother’s Dance #1 Mother does notWant to dance aloneCome childShe’s trying to bringYou into the musicOf her tears Her mouth is bleedingIn the center of this prayer.There is no waterIn her danceAs she stumbles forHer father Her hands are achingAnd in her pleaFor salvationShe is naked As hands touch herShe knowsShe will be raped againUnder…
Jonathan Louis Duckworth: Three Wendigo Poems for Haunted Passages

Wendigo III Rasp of rawhide, knock of bone on hollow bone, clatter of loose broad teeth set in cervine jaw, jangle of beads of glass & obsidian & cowrie, sounds that fill your footprints like snowmelt. You know wendigo is following you. Dokeep walking. Do notlook back. Dorub your hands together—warmth will protect you. Do…
Micah Zevin: Two Poems from The Future

Personification: Extinction Chronicles Can we make more happen than burning to the groundand tears? Become a disappearing collection in the noble library ofnoble thoughts and concepts shelved. Have you ever said you’ve run out of yourself? The ego is a regal thing but has no crown. I am in a rush not to slip into…
“The Light to Our Worship”: A Poem from The Future by Armando Jaramillo Garcia

Vertical farming is coming The rain will grow your hair back Friends will be a dime-a-dozen Real ones will still be scarce Floods will balloon the bodies of thoughts Only science may prick to disastrous results And from that they’ll gather the seeds For their machines which will sting to touch Kites will bishop the…
The Future: Two Poems by Chris Muravez

The Art of Dying We are all walking around,smelling like apocalypse—a fleshy earth musknot unlike summer squash.I’ve been accused of beinga nature poet, a religious poet,but I know nothing of naturenor religion. New York City is already underwater,the Brooklyn Bridge washed away.I’m not sad that I never got to visit.During the time of earth’s unmaskingtwo…