Longer
by Siel Ju

The clear truth of the moment is that it'll pass. Any sort of desire or impetus or agency or ability of emotional closeness you feel right now – that'll pass. What's left'll be the vague sense that you wanted something that may or may no longer be worth the effort. If it helps picture the happy reverse too. As in, if we work quickly, that too will produce illimitable desire, perhaps. I'd like to think that the individual is unique, but act a certain slutty way, and they'll all react back in the exact manner you imagined. Let it go and just write shorter poems, though you'll find it easier to do so if you've already published. Otherwise you'll simply come across as lazy, will you not.

Nicole Mysandwich

You pruned the weeping birch, though I distinctly told you not to. What do you know about landscaping anyway? And now look at it - it’s the saddest thing in our front yard. The “decorative, crenulated bark” that was so appealing to us when we bought it is falling off in sheets. A clergy of leafminers have ritually spread their blight;leaves that look like they’ve been burned crunch in my hand even though it’s the middle of spring.

Squirrels won’t be jostling the branches scurrying around in that canopy anymore. It’s dying, you know… and it looks well deserving of its stature.

Dig it up. We’re going to The Home Depot this weekend.