May 30, 2024
Failed Eulogy
The Kenyon Review · “Failed Eulogy” by MaKshya Tolbert I wanted to say too muchI mistook their livesfor what I had to giveSo much wanted languageI was so muchI did […]
May 30, 2024
A Disappearance
The Kenyon Review · “A Disappearance” by noam keim Once upon a time, you roamed the desert of your own solitude, brought to exile by the shape of your desires, […]
May 30, 2024
My Beloved the Blasphemer Causes a Scuffle at the Bar
The Kenyon Review · “My Beloved the Blasphemer . . .” by Martín Espada Turners Falls, Massachusetts, January 2019 My beloved stands at the mike in the barroom on 3rd […]
May 30, 2024
Florencia, Again and Again
The Kenyon Review · “Florencia, Again And Again” by Martín Espada For Steve Stern The singers sang to Florencia Mallón today. The Threshold Singers stood at the bedside in memory […]
May 29, 2024
Homage to Kathleen Collins
The ecstatic moment is, so to speak, after the fact. — Losing Ground (1982)In the waiting room, I read an article about an art restoration project in Dresden. A team removed […]
May 29, 2024
Bedtime Stories from the Permian
When I was a little girl, my older sister refused to tell me fairy tales. My bedtime stories were instead about the sea. Ellie talked of turtles with minds that […]
May 29, 2024
Bloodsucker
The Kenyon Review · “Bloodsucker” by Analía Villagra Early days, earliest days, before days were called days but were only the gleaming glow of a fiery sun, a sticky syrup […]
May 29, 2024
Deep Down, Every Sinner
The Kenyon Review · “Deep Down, Every Sinner” by Iain Haley Pollock The subject of the dream is the dreamer. — Toni Morrison The night & the tree were always […]
May 29, 2024
Grapes and Pentimenti
Oil on linen 4 × 6 inchesBefore sunrise in the French market, I set out a row of colors from crumpled tubes, arranged a cluster of purple grapes to make […]
May 29, 2024
Alphabet Shell
Oil on linen 6 × 6 inchesConus spurius, what does it say — this shield you held as long as you could against a world that would grind apalm of words to […]
May 29, 2024
Figs and Silver Cup
Oil on linen10 × 8 inchesRaven, sent to fetch water in a cup, noted a cobalt bloom on ripe figs fallen from limbs the color of mahogany, the fruit sweet […]
May 29, 2024
The Repetition Is Appropriate Because What’s Being Denied Is Country
The Kenyon Review · “The Repetition Is Appropriate . . .” by Saddiq Dzukogi Darwish turns in his grave, the house where he is not denied a country, where olive […]