Feature > Poetry
Nick Flynn

Nick Flynn

Nick Flynn has worked as a ship's captain, an electrician, and a case-worker with homeless adults. Each spring, since 2004, he has been in residence at University of Houston, teaching workshops in poetry, creative non-fiction, and collaboration. I Will Destroy You, which will include the poem in this issue, will appear in 2019.

Prince Performing "Motherless Child" [live]


Somewhere, as I watch Prince
sing Motherless Child on my phone,

it's my mother's birthday—both exist  
completely inside

the song, I wouldn't change a thing.

Flowers run through their veins now,
so many it seems that inside each

is a garden, even if no one will ever
wander them. Each body can hold

so much, simply to stand requires
a million constant & nearly im-

perceptible adjust-

ments between falling &
catching yourself as you fall. Look at

how his body moves, both inside
each note & as he creates each

note . . . Can I play my guitar?
he asks. We know, we know, we know
the song won't last forever . . .

Poetry

Gregory Pardlo

Gregory Pardlo
Asking For A Friend

Poetry

Sean Singer

Sean Singer
Days Of Winter

Poetry

Airea D. Matthews

Airea D. Matthews
When Can We Expect Payment?