poetry
There are many kinds of poetry, and we want them all. Freeverse, iambic, haiku, sonnets, romantic, humorous, dark, send us your best!
Someone Has Given You Life
omeone has given you life
cherish it
someone has carried you
in their arms
from birth
from illness
from a car wreck
from death's portal
cherish it
when you look up
into the eyes of love
cherish it
when a gift
lifts you
from poverty
in tired arms
cherish it
when poverty itself
turns away to say goodbye
cherish it
By Charles Goldman
someone has given you life
cherish it
someone has carried you
in their arms
from birth
from illness
from a car wreck
from death's portal
cherish it
when you look up
into the eyes of love
cherish it
when a gift
lifts you
from poverty
in tired arms
cherish it
when poverty itself
turns away to say goodbye
cherish it
when those who hate
send their malice flying
cherish it
when you are alone
and loved
even from afar
cherish it
in all the days
of agony and tears
in all the gluttony
and merciless
men who'd
have you cower
and use you
to their advantage
until they themselves
must face
the tribunal of
their souls
cherish it
cherish it all
and give of it
make it your own
and set it free
for it has wings
and eyes
and a heart
as big as time
and in its
embrace
you are whole
About the author
I believe in the great heart of my species, that it will lay down every gun, that
it will stop generating tribunals out of confusion and hatred, and find
the center of all things turning within its own individuated hearts,
to find beauty in the simplest smile and surrender to life like children to their hours of play.
For the generation of complex rationalizations I pray simplicity
For the generation of addiction and sloth I pray dignity
For the generation of scientific absolutes I pray mystery
For the generation of poverty and base drives I pray torment's end
For the generation of killers and their protectors through Might I pray awakening
For the generation of manufacturers and brokers I pray that love is the coin of the realm.
C. Goldman
Phoenix Forged By Stars
i sew my wounds
shut with stars,
fire isn't only destructive
sometimes it can
heal
By Linda M. Crate
i sew my wounds
shut with stars,
fire isn't only destructive
sometimes it can
heal;
after every chaos of my heart
had subsided there were plants
activated by fire growing
which weren't growing there before—
i always rise from the ashes an immortal
phoenix, whose fires can burn
and whose tears can heal;
but my song is one
worth remembering,
my magic
is all my own—
sometimes people take my
love for granted,
and it hurts;
but i contain multitudes
and some of them are
shallows
perhaps it makes sense why
they can't understand
or comprehend all of my depths.
About the author
Linda M. Crate (she/her) is a Pennsylvanian writer whose poetry, short stories, articles, and reviews have been published in a myriad of magazines both online and in print. She has seventeen published chapbooks the latest being: only the future knows (Alien Buddha Press, November 2025).
Normies
Tell me what to think
Tell me what to say
Tell me what to wear today
By Gene Lass
Tell me what to think
Tell me what to say
Tell me what to wear today
Tell me what to watch
Tell me what to hear
Tell me if I should drink this brand of beer
I’m a normie
An empty vessel for you
I’m a normie
Tell me what to do
When I’m online
Tell me what to share
Tell me who to talk to
Tell me why I care
Help me pick my friends
The algorithm is plain to see
Tell me who should govern me
’Cause I’m a normie
I don’t want to read
I’m a normie
Your will fills all my needs