by John Salimbene VOICEMAIL POEMS · "Morning Poem" by John Salimbene On my block,morning iswhen the Germanshepherd speaksits fury ata cardinal.I have notyet learnedhow to speakmy fury.Our lawn isa teenage beard;patchy andglisteningwith angst.That mailmanalways flattensour garden, andfills our boxwith Christmas,bigotry andobituaries.I lost twofriends beforeI could vote.The town journalleft out thepills and ropes.The air is thicklikeContinue reading “Morning Poem”
Author Archives: voicemailpoems
A Parable
by Cassandra Coale VOICEMAIL POEMS · “A Parable” by Cassandra Coale I heart you. I lung, liver and lymph you. I tongue tendon.Meet me at the bald spot of the day, in your quietest shoes.Meet me under cover of night, features shadowed with eerie Frenchness. How cool is the room inside my room: breath ofContinue reading “A Parable”
Through the Fence
by Alison Lubar VOICEMAIL POEMS · “Through the Fence” by Alison Lubar Alison Lubar teaches high school English by day and yoga by night. They are a queer, nonbinary femme of color whose life work (aside from wordsmithing) has evolved into bringing mindfulness practices, and sometimes even poetry, to young people. Most recently, their workContinue reading “Through the Fence”
The Plums
by Shayna Hodkin VOICEMAIL POEMS · “The Plums” by Shayna Hodkin the plums were as big and dry as baseballs i waited weeksfor them to ripen all they did was rotto relieve my guilt at their compost funeral i saidlook at these atrocitiesthey were meant to be worm food slowly eating yogurt in the kitchenContinue reading “The Plums”
distant, we watch
by Fox Auslander VOICEMAIL POEMS · “distant, we watch” by Fox Auslander Fox Auslander is a nonbinary poet based in Philadelphia. They are one of two co-editors at Delicate Friend, an assistant poetry editor at Alien Magazine, and probably happy. You can find their recent work in perhappened, Prismatica Magazine, and Eunoia Review, or onContinue reading “distant, we watch”
Sonnet For My Mother
by Riley Rennhack VOICEMAIL POEMS · "Sonnet For My Mother" by Riley Rennhack I carried a dead bird into my houseto please my mother who was on the phonebelieving the “dove” might just be sleeping,stunned by the cold that took over Texas.It was Ash Wednesday. She’s not a Catholic,but she’ll take what she can getContinue reading “Sonnet For My Mother”
On Deprivation
by Sarah Sophia Yanni VOICEMAIL POEMS · "On Deprivation" by Sarah Sophia Yanni so many of my experienceswere about waiting patience learned throughroutine fasting, a child’srumbling stomach no matchfor the joy of victory, thejoy of making my parentsproud. one day aweek, the first thing thatenters my bodymust be holy. and then––yearsof waiting to turninto somethinggolden.Continue reading “On Deprivation”
oh my darling / this is me in water
by Alicia Turner VOICEMAIL POEMS · "oh my darling / this is me in water" by Alicia Turner sometimes, you see that i am not shallow puddles / i am swerving / fast-moving exits / bravery through books and bottles / you hold the baggage that is this hurt in your hands / while iContinue reading “oh my darling / this is me in water”
My Mother Recites the Birds
by Chelsea Harlan VOICEMAIL POEMS · "My Mother Recites the Birds" by Chelsea Harlan I haven’t reallytaken any notice. Finches, cardinals,blue jays, titmouse,nuthatches, crows,yellow grosbeaks, I said titmouse…um, some woodpeckers.I have sparrowsnesting in the planters… What else:hawks,but they don’t come to the feeders,red-tail hawks, warblers…though I couldn’ttell you what they look like.You should be callingContinue reading “My Mother Recites the Birds”
Lemons
by Zinnia Smith VOICEMAIL POEMS · "Lemons" by Zinnia Smith A beautiful sound: citrus season. I’ve never lived anywhere. A hammock part in the shade, part in the sun. We should move without reason to a place with warm rain, midday. A loan with bees in the lantanas and surprising places: screens, kettles,Continue reading “Lemons”