Social Distance Theory

By Ashna Ali On an assemblage of screens on another firework evening
Ruthie Gilmore reminds us that abolition is not recitation.

Apokaluptein

By Hayan Charara The Arab apocalypse began around the year
of my birth, give or take—
the human apocalypse,
a few thousand years earlier.

By Siaara Freeman When I say ancestors, let’s be clear:
I mean slaves. I’m talkin’ Tennessee
cotton & Louisiana suga. I mean grave dirt.

By Allison Adelle Hedge Coke Your arm was twisted, bone exposed
face past point of wet stained,
fledgling fell there

By Michal 'MJ' Jones You are [found] in
cherry blossom trees / heron bird flight /rib-
bon of night / space between stairs / rose

By Zefyr Lisowski Was not a monster— (His hands were soft)
Was not an abnormality— Was not just
“being a boy”— Had no reputation—

By Kateema Lee She grew up hearing about girls
who never made it to womanhood, girls
whose names wore away with each decade

By Tobias Wray Once done,
my father pulled
the instrument apart.

By Laura Tohe My body
holds
stones

By Carlos Andrés Gómez whisper through tear gas—
remind of the original
patrols, ruddy-cheeked