Steven Cordova pokes at American exceptionalism and willful ignorance.
Poetry
Marshmallow Suite
Patti Kameya boldly satirizes cultural appropriation and the violence that accompanies it.
Patti Kameya boldly satirizes cultural appropriation and the violence that accompanies it.
Naked
From the Mostar Bridge to the Golden Gate Bridge, atrocity leaves us "without a metaphor."
From the Mostar Bridge to the Golden Gate Bridge, atrocity leaves us “without a metaphor.”
The Proper Courage
ICE conducted sweeping raids in immigrant communities last week. Still, so many white moderates "try the impossible /not to witness."
ICE conducted sweeping raids in immigrant communities last week. Still, so many white moderates “try the impossible /not to witness.”
1928
Edward J. Santella celebrates the strength of women in immigrant families.
Edward J. Santella celebrates the strength of women in immigrant families.
Sometimes They Come Back to Her in Dreams
In Leona Sevick's poem, a daughter of Korean immigrants grapples with the loneliness that can reside at cultural intersections.
In Leona Sevick’s poem, a daughter of Korean immigrants grapples with the loneliness that can reside at cultural intersections.
Two Micro-Poems
Soodabeh Saeidnia's "Two Micro-Poems" captures our present sense of disunity and the accompanying sorrow.
Soodabeh Saeidnia’s “Two Micro-Poems” captures our present sense of disunity and the accompanying sorrow.
Revelations
The first poem in our Immigration and Xenophobia series should frighten and embolden you.
The first poem in our Immigration and Xenophobia series should frighten and embolden you.
For Blond Boys Hit by Cars
Desire and death are never far apart; neither are beauty and tragedy.
Desire and death are never far apart; neither are beauty and tragedy.
Doing the Work of a Bullock, You are Cut in Half
"Never with a doll or book /you listen to crickets"--an evocative lyric that reminds us of the power of the image.
“Never with a doll or book /you listen to crickets”–an evocative lyric that reminds us of the power of the image.
BioDome
A poem we received on November 9th.
A poem we received on November 9th.
What I Meant
Does becoming a parent damage one's happiness? Or is language really just that slippery?
Does becoming a parent damage one’s happiness? Or is language really just that slippery?
Wyoming Deputy Rides into Sunset After Dress Code Bans Cowboy Hats
Gary Bouchard's "headline poem" is part quirk, part admiration; a blank verse soliloquy uttered by a man who appreciates the value of boots -- "Soles, holes and all the sweet manure they hold!"
Gary Bouchard’s “headline poem” is part quirk, part admiration; a blank verse soliloquy uttered by a man who appreciates the value of boots — “Soles, holes and all the sweet manure they hold!”
When Rajiv was Blown Up
Anuja Ghimire juxtaposes the personal and the political in her recollection of the 1991 assassination of Indian ex-Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
Anuja Ghimire juxtaposes the personal and the political in her recollection of the 1991 assassination of Indian ex-Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
Mr. Brady
In the wake of Susan Olsen's homophobic rant, Jeffery Berg's bold re-imagining of Mike Brady raises provoking ideas about sexuality, fatherhood, and American manhood.
In the wake of Susan Olsen’s homophobic rant, Jeffrey Berg’s bold reimagining of Mike Brady raises provoking ideas about sexuality, fatherhood, and American manhood.
Basic Training
We start 2017 with Mark Ward's exhortation that poetry embrace "the callous bark," since "to beautify /the world [we] cannot be contained in stanzas."
We start 2017 with Mark Ward’s exhortation that poetry embrace “the callous bark,” since “to beautify /the world [we] cannot be contained in stanzas.”