We Promise to Protect Each Other

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”

Things I’d Still Do

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”

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 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”

The Dawn Raids

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”

sometimes at 10:37pm you need to change your life

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”

Poem Written in iPhone Note via Voice to Text While Driving

by Jill McLaughlin VOICEMAIL POEMS · "Poem Written in iPhone Note via Voice to Text While Driving" by Jill McLaughlin Jill McLaughlin is a Maine-based writer whose work has appeared in Stonecoast Review, Pangyrus, and Channel: Ireland’s Environmental Literary Magazine. She is the recipient of a Martin Dibner Fellowship, an Ilgenfritz Scholarship, and a residency from AIR Litteratur VästraContinue reading “Poem Written in iPhone Note via Voice to Text While Driving”

My Last Summer with Dad, 2023

by Annie Powell Stone VOICEMAIL POEMS · "My Last Summer with Dad, 2023" by Annie Powell Stone Dad was on the couch, mostlystarving to death in front of uscancer, stage IV (for this type, many don’t catchthe earlier stages, and of coursethere aren’t later ones) we hung pinecone bird feeders closeto the house, bringing NatureContinue reading “My Last Summer with Dad, 2023”