Writing is an act of resistance
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Two Poems by Maryam, Illustrated by Narwan
More Than a Thousand Days Without School For the last time,I heard my school’s ring,the melody that runs us toward growth.For the last time, I sat in its chair,the chair that helps me achieve my goals.For the last time, I travelled by my teacher’s teachingto discover the wonders of the earth and the sky.For the
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I’m Afraid There’s Something Wrong with Mr. Prescott
By Ron Burch He started wearing 18th century clothing, donning a coat, waistcoat, and breeches. The breeches, with buttons down the side, went over his silk stockings. His shoes were rounded at the toes with low heels, the tongues fastened with large buckles. He had adopted a long riding duster that cut low past his
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They Tell Us
By Dawn Tasaka Steffler I Wait until buyer’s remorse sets inWait until it hurts the farmersUntil it hurts the veteransUntil the social security checks stop comingUntil they take away birthright citizenshipUntil they take away freedom of speechUntil they take away the vote from womenUntil another pandemic rears its head and hundreds of thousands die again
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NOPE
By Alina Zollfrank I’m an app balker. Proof? You can do this on your cell phone,eager salespeople soothe and I, I refuse – Just check in on your screen,the medical clinic suggests and I, I walk right in and demand the eye contact that’s owed – It’s easy to transfer funds this way,pesters my credit union, and I, I stash wadded cash to
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Now Your True Life Begins
By Claudia Wair It’s dark early morning when they take you out of your cell at the county jail. They lead you to a waiting bus, full of other prisoners. The detainees are all Black, like you. Everyone here has been charged with the same crime: taking a white man’s job. The people on the
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The Moment
By Zoey Knowlton I followed you to your car he saysTo tell you that I think you’re hotbeautiful he corrects A stammer of thanks Inside, I am beaming validated female affirmed trans woman Later, the what if creeps, slinking through the euphoria What if he hurt he grabbed he persisted I tell my story to a room full of womenThey nod, understanding too well Welcome to us to the
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Mad Libs Drinking Game
By Anna Kiggins Game rules: replace nouns with alcoholic beverages in Trump’s infamous January 6th speech à la the classic children’s game. Media will not show the magnitudeof this Kentucky bourbon. Even Iwhen I turned today, I looked, and Isaw thousands of Kentucky bourbonshere. But you don’t see hundreds of thousandsof Kentucky bourbons behind you
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Mask Gleaners by Donald Patten
Artist’s Statement Almost overnight, COVID-19 had changed the way people interact with each other, and with our own bodies. We lived our lives in vulnerability during that historically significant time of disaster. The initial phases of the pandemic are behind us, but the virus remains and continues to be dangerous. The societal trauma this pandemic
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The Heron
By Sam Rafferty Sunset was approaching when the birdwatcher kayaked deep into the swamp. She hid behind shrubs, which offered a full view of the cypress trees where several herons would soon arrive to roost for the night. The trees reminded the birdwatcher of the uncomfortable debutante balls of her youth. Their roots spread into