October 25, 2017
I often hear writers talking about how they are trying to give students readings that make them think, "wow, fiction can do that?" Those same writers often say they started writing themselves when they read something that made them think, "wow, fiction can do that?" But I find it difficult to square that sentiment with the readings lists that largely assign white American "experimental" writers.
Those ...
October 23, 2017
Molly McCully Brown
Self Portrait as The Other Girl
Sometimes I see lovelier versions of my body going bad: girl sleeping
in the high grass of a winter field. Girl with her fist in her mouth,
gnawing her knuckles to mica. Girl as a a music box whistling weird lullabies,
a well waiting to be filled with water, a safe place for rabbits to be born.
Girl buried in snow. Girl ...
October 16, 2017
Leila Chatti
Litany While Reading Scripture in the Gynecologic Oncology Waiting Room
And God said, let there be blood
And God said, flood
And God said, good
is a woman with fruit
in her womb and not
in her hand
And God said, sin
And God did not say, forgive
And God said, I will make a stormy wind
And God said, son, a breath
stirring
And God said, ...
October 09, 2017
Natasha Oladokun
Performance of Rites at Community Inn
Roanoke, VA
taking my hair
in his fingers
quick
I feel
the slightest yank
his back to me before
I turn around
white man
elephant
in a crowded bar
to flay or not to flay
this is the question
always
the body
my body rendered
an open question
whether or not to wash down my wrath
the ...
