Read the winning piece of our 2025 Nonfiction Contest “Through the Mirror” by Jessie Cato selected by Lucy Ives.

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Winter 1944 • Vol. VI No. 1 • New Verse by Five Poets |

Problem Evil into Cocoon

Are monsters all big?
I connive on a twig,
Head to heel, head to heel,
Aloof in chenille.
Arrogant worm, is my name,
Ugly worm, they exclaim.
I warp to a hood.
I filter no good.
As horror as whale,
Malignant as eel,
As stinging, as male;
In a sheathe of chenille.

So fester on dews,
On my moss of chartreuse.
And if men come me nigh
Make a fright for near eye.
Arrogant worm, is my name.
Ugly worm, they exdaim.
Next make, next transform
Me more evil than worm.
My stupor I obey;
Erupt will I from this sack,
Monster as huge as day
And black as night is black.

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