A poem by Lynsey Griswold

A poem by Olly Bryan

A poem by Carlos Detres

A poem by Olly Bryan

without adornment, poetry gives herself to silence…and smoke’s release allows a body’s quiet. By Kara Rochelle

in search of lost time..

will i rail forever
against the moments past–
eternally reigniting
what has long since grown cold?
reanimating our bodies
our touches, words, and embraces–

who falls asleep and dreams it
and believes in a glimpse of the truth?

as I sat
huddled against the
hieroglyphics scratched
in a trance along the
rusted bars of this tijuana cell
I noticed the overripe waterbug
scurrying across the freedom
land, shiny and black and
without care in his pre-chosen
path thinking on molded bread
crumbs or the slosh of stale
beer mixed with brown sweat
of armed guards whose
calling as a human fell through
the cracks along with their
eyes [...]

I have worn other mens trousers once or twice
and found that they were mostly too loose
I have worn other mens women once or twice
and sadly found that they were the same

After hours, I awoke in a pool of sweat

And the realization that I’m very much not alone
I look out my window for the comfort of sunlight
Only to be mocked by the skyscrapers of the dead
Why had I nestled here I thought
So close to this restful sight, so loud in its eternity
Ticking, taunting any peace
My cover [...]

My second week on the reservation,
I dreamed of camping on the prairie with Lakota elders.