Author Archives: voicemailpoems

by Chiara Crisafulli VOICEMAIL POEMS · "4-tongue poem" by Chiara Crisafulli Inspired by the current state of the American political landscape, this poem expresses the (linguistic) discomfort I’m experiencing as a recent immigrant who speaks and writes four languages. Chiara Crisafulli is an Italian writer originally from Sicily and a recent immigrant to the USA.Continue reading “4-tongue poem”

Marissa DeSantis Diandra Williams Tatiana Chaterji Annabelle Chen Jaime Jacques Maia Brown-Jackson Annie Powell Stone Jill McLaughlin Sarena Brown Derrick Austin Cindy Kurukaanga Devan Murphy Aparna Paul Dré Pontbriand Lauren Dotson Jarrett Moseley

by Jarrett Moseley VOICEMAIL POEMS · "Work Ghazal" by Jarrett Moseley The last night we spoke, you said we could make this work.I sold the bed we used to sleep on, to forget, hoping it would work. I left the pink book you gave me on my desk, your lettersin my drawer, the ones whereContinue reading “Work Ghazal”

by Lauren Dotson VOICEMAIL POEMS · "We Promise to Protect Each Other" by Lauren Dotson Lauren Dotson (they/she) is an interdisciplinary performer, poet, collagist, and storyteller currently based in Chicago, but originally from Ypsilanti, Michigan. Lauren creates work that concerns itself with Black temporalities and the tenderness of protection. Through their poems Lauren wants toContinue reading “We Promise to Protect Each Other”

by Dré Pontbriand VOICEMAIL POEMS · "Things I'd Still Do" by Dré Pontbriand Get in vans with strangers: a Palo-Santo heavy Chevy G20with a sonnet-spilling prophet; a red 70’s Volkswagenshaggin’ wagon with three long-haired surfers headed South;a fuzzy pink and purple pimped out festival-goer’s fantasystocked with the best candy—one taste and I make-outwith God. TalkContinue reading “Things I’d Still Do”

by Aparna Paul VOICEMAIL POEMS · "these days, everybody wants to hear the prophecies of yore…" by Aparna Paul & when my friend pulls up & the speaker starts crackling with some eldritch horror, & it asks,do you want to die with that?& my friend looks over at me & asks, well, do you?& iContinue reading “these days, everybody wants to hear the prophecies of yore at a mcdonald’s drive through, and i just don’t think that that’s what i’m after”

by Devan Murphy VOICEMAIL POEMS · "The Goose: A Diptych" by Devan Murphy Devan Murphy is the author of the chapbook I’M NOT I’M NOT I’M NOT A BABY (Ethel 2024), a collection of prose poems and essays and abstract comics about God and loneliness. Her writing and illustrations have appeared or are forthcoming inContinue reading “The Goose: A Diptych”

by Cindy Kurukaanga VOICEMAIL POEMS · "The Dawn Raids" by Cindy Kurukaanga Chocolate Polynesian brown was beckonedto the land of the long white cloudto work in factories, freezing works, docks,was beckoned to work hard,send money back to islands of hibiscus and frangipani But chocolate Polynesian brown got swallowed,digested in a stomach churning with acid-filled hateTheContinue reading “The Dawn Raids”

by Derrick Austin VOICEMAIL POEMS · "Sunday Tea" by Derrick Austin I studied Italian painters, Giorgione, Titian.At one job, I’m a glorified secretary.I answer the phone in my professional voiceand sell gaudy urns to luxe addresses. My neighbor listens patiently, amused by my young life.We’re the only Black gay men in our building,so he hasContinue reading “Sunday Tea”

by Sarena Brown VOICEMAIL POEMS · "sometimes at 10:37pm you need to change your life" by Sarena Brown so you do the next best thingand you cut your hair you follow a youtube videoand a confident-man-hair-stylist-typeshows you how using a mannequin head and swift movements on your turn you take two ponytailsand the shittiest pairContinue reading “sometimes at 10:37pm you need to change your life”