Summer’s upon us, and wild flowers have painted California’s landscapes brilliant. The flowers’ seeds can lie dormant for decades, emerging only when their soil is disturbed. While the works in this issue have been inspired by seemingly countless disturbances confronting us today, may the poppies inspire hope and action. In the meantime, we’re delighted to […]
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By Bänoo Zan For Nika Shakarami 1 At your memorial 2 the Luri 3 song echoed on speakers: “Mother, mother, it’s time for war . . .” 4 Today would have been your birthday Forty days before on the streets of Tehran dead girl—living God— burning your hijab— darkness on fire— your Derafsh-e Kavian […]
By Andrea Dulanto I. Yes, I wore the thrift store T-shirts, the torn fishnets, but I was no riot grrrl. I was already in my twenties when I read about riot grrrls in Newsweek, too old to write manifestoes on my body. No, it was more like I was too afraid of music that gets […]
By Phoenix Ning Sixteen-year-old person of color desires escape from this inferno where dark-skinned individuals burn, and alabaster spectators cheer from the sidelines, popping confetti guns and feeding oil to ancient flames while claiming to be long-awaited saviors. Eighteen-year-old student desires world history classes with curriculums that celebrate African kingdoms, Indigenous empires, and South […]
By Emma Goldman-Sherman After being done to by the pack of men after she collapsed at the threshold of the old man’s shack after her master discovered her there unresponsive he cut her up with his sharpened axe not for nothing, not for hate, to get everyone’s attention crying the way men cry when […]
By Rachel Rodman “I’m just saying. I’m a nice guy. I just want to say HI. And you’re going to accept this greeting whether you fucking like it or not.” —Elon James White, from a now deleted Twitter account “Hi,” he demanded. He waited, while everyone watched; he waited with a smile, because […]
By Howie Good Artist’s statement: My family originated in Eastern Europe. Any member who did not emigrate prior to the rise of the Nazism—my maternal grandmother’s parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins—were exterminated in the death camps during World War II. No record of exactly what befell them or where was ever discovered, despite […]
By Larry Needham “Ah, what an age it is When to speak of trees is almost a crime For it is a kind of silence about injustice!” —Bertolt Brecht, “To Posterity” Before the jar the anecdote and Tennessee, wilderness. Forests primeval, grim and awful— extravagant as first growth imaginings. The Dark Ages. Then dominion […]
By Sarah Waldner Sharp U-turn on the language around fossil fuels. The text now includes a reference to “low emission and renewable energy.” New funding arrangement on loss and damage. Phase-down of unabated coal power. Concrete demonstration that we really are all in this together. No one will be left behind. Sharp concern on […]
By Amal El-Sayed A wave of blue and yellow— A sea of sky and grain Washed all over the world. Braving snowstorms and epidemics, You marched in the name of peace. A row of strollers lying in wait In Poland, in Slovakia. Supplies, donations, support. Homes—opening Families—welcoming The whole world—enclosing Ukraine with love. So […]
By Mandira Pattnaik Warning: domestic violence Because you’re the moon, Mother thinks you’re full of circles and spots, and never consistent — rebellious and sulking, often hiding in hoodie jackets, known to break china even with a sponge scrubber, and mostly saying what is best avoided, making mistakes. Sister is better. She poses no troubles, […]
By Phyllis Wax The tales she told night after night for a thousand and one nights— fascinating enough to keep the king entranced and to save herself from beheading. But bedtime stories from today’s Persia, women targeted like wild game— pheasants or pigeons, squirrels, rabbits— men taking aim at faces, breasts, genitals to cause […]
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By Marjorie Gowdy “Have you been targeted by the President of the United States?” Lady Ruby Freeman in chalkboard-white suit, crimson hat, asks The Man. Swept aside like yesterday’s ashes, Our Lady. Stalwart Georgia pine, poll counter, valiant, precise. Slandered on screen by a middling mayor-madman. Chased like a fox by hungry hounds, rushed […]
By AJ Donley They warn you about the dangers that you’ll be feverish that your throat will hurt that it’s contagious that you won’t be able to breathe they try to scare you away from action with the risk of symptoms that have always been there because COVID is new but racism is not […]
By Ellen Girardeau Kempler After you pay your poll tax, Boy, I’ll ask you how many jellybeans are in the big jar I keep on my Registrar’s desk? How many bubbles are in this bar of soap? How many seeds are in a watermelon, any watermelon? (An answer you should naturally know.) How many […]
By Angel T. Dionne “But you don’t look bipolar,” as if bipolar is screaming at cars from the sidewalk as if bipolar is hopping up on tables to proclaim that I’m the Messiah as if bipolar is no career and no relationships. “But you don’t look bipolar,” as if being happily married means I […]
By Christie M. Buchovecky An old friend messaged today. Told me “Got a funny story if ya have time . . .” and sent a clip: riding by an old Colonial I recognized, despite a view obscured by rain and the barred windows he’d had to film behind. “Nothing like riding down your old […]
By David Icenogle They tell me the copay for my medication is only a hundred and fifty dollars. The best way to measure privilege is the way people use the word “only.” They tell me I should be relieved because without insurance it would’ve been eight-hundred. Why not make it a million? They tell […]
