Elijah Elvin wood of gators, herbed in ginger, limestone peaks, vetiver rain-kissed, a mist’s night in pearled antilles deepens your devotion, keeps your heart open. To the ocean Boukman looks, west the enslaved strike to be unbroken. Lespwa fe viv Lespwa fe viv The bell rings at the sun’s set, the Creole pig ceases its… Read More Bois Caïman

Cheyenne Anjali my people identify themselves by the sea. they are always interested in the non-black parts of me. the baby soft hairs of my growing unibrow, beauty marks scattering across my skin like stardust dark curls twining around themselves like lovers, pink lips longing for tamarind sauce and callaloo, brown skin like mangoes, sweet… Read More Trini Girl

Mauricio Audirac mi alma es dos two halves mi corazón se parte a la mitad cut deep by a machete no sé quién soy, mexicano o a gringo chicano or latino serán mejores las memelas o a nice juicy cheeseburger toma el jugo del agave drink a nice cool tequila corre, corre para estados unidos… Read More Corazón Partido

Elijah Elvin Where is time spared to make change? Is it as seconds become less & less & not many, in a reach for life that is so minute yet so fickle? Or will it be before our skin turns to grime– And doomsday’s vessels trickle? Shall we be the weak that forever stays shorter?… Read More Church Avenue and East 34th Street

Riley Harrison The world is both beautiful and fearsome. Today the wind reckons against me. The water drags large stones upon my heel. Every bird’s shadow clips closely. The flies do not stop whirring their engines near my ears. Close to shore, seals tease sharks and more bugs park along my bright beach towel. The… Read More Creation

at an exhibit of Orbicular Batfish in Shedd Aquarium Riley Harrison The tank was full of them. On their side of the glass— a vibrant school idly circling, and on mine— a parallel swarm of children. I caught the eye of one fish and tried with my mind to will it toward me until it slowly… Read More Recognition

Greta R. Cunningham The night ripens, its flesh yellowing into a morning you pick with deft hands– Something for us to share, like the orange you’re rolling between your palms. Devil’s hour, you say, glancing at the clock. It’s almost 5. I don’t tell you that the devil’s hour is 3, an hour we’ve left… Read More Staying Up

James Frazier-Wilson I have nothing and everything – the pounding is in my voice and in my head and in my bones again, and I move like a gazelle Through a swamp. Always limbs flailing, forcing my way into The murk. And I am only as young as the hour calls, as sharp as The… Read More Knifepoint

Megumi Oishi like a stag in nightfall dewdrops on spotted hairs antlers ablaze in the wind fresh wreath of velvet injury bleeding draining bruising for what does not ache aching itching paining for what does not bleed bleach cotton white tail flagging your surrender but heavy is the head and the young blood that it… Read More Antlers

Fatima Jalloh is / a love story / your father / teaches / you / every day / father / teaches / you / be kind / anyone / could / be / god / even if / they are / mean / to you / fall in love / with / who / love… Read More god