The International Metatron Poetry Prize Finalists ❋ THE AREOLA DIARIES ❋ Stevie Belchak
outside the land winds and there are oceans swelling into birds and someone somewhere is seeing today as today and today I am writing this
The International Metatron Poetry Prize Finalists ❋ PLUM ❋ Em Frank
I sat with a mirror and kept changing the distance of my face my pain was wider than time the air doted on me
The International Metatron Poetry Prize Finalists ❋ THE GOAT’S TONGUE ❋ Peace Akintade-Oluwagbeye
we wonder if the poet misses the real sky, the one that swallows you whole, that sheds its skin at dusk and drinks the wails of gods
The International Metatron Poetry Prize Finalists ❋ REFLECTIONS OF LIGHT ON WATER ❋ Tatum Howey
Muteness, that was the word that lodged itself in me that morning. The feeling or general disposition I had been trying to locate.
The International Metatron Poetry Prize Finalists ❋ THINKING IN PUBLIC ❋ Molly Schaeffer
When I think of the possibility of dissolving I don’t have a problem with the action. The problem arises when I begin thinking about the residue that I might leave behind
The International Metatron Poetry Prize Finalists ❋ DON’T ASK DO TELL ❋ Noah Sparrow
The colour I breathe in has turned purple. This is because in a day or two, I have already washed our towels, and you will get groceries, and you’ll go to the market, down the river
The International Metatron Poetry Prize Finalists ❋ FOOL’S ERRAND ❋ Casper Lucia
I want something from you I can’t get because what I want from you is me
The International Metatron Poetry Prize Finalists ❋ FULL BLEED ❋ Stevie Belchak
A belief rises in me that all light is still somehow reaching my object, person, shimmering arms
WHAT MY HAIR SAYS ABOUT YOU ❋ Laura Theobald
so what i’m saying is is anybody awake in the year 2000 and are you wearing the skin of someone or any skin
DIVIDE THE HOOF ❋ Sarah Jean Grimm
If I imagine these things are paper and gloss I can get off on my own lack My moods are many animals
BOND “GIRLS” PT. 2: ESTRELLA ❋ Sennah Yee
I used to like it when you’d call me mysterious. Mysterious is oxblood lipstick
DO YOU FEEL AT HOME HERE ❋ Liz Bowen
holler at the bouncer who threw out my attacker— make kissy noises at the zodiac— whistle at jupiter’s thick thighs— holler at my cryptic emails— catcall my careerism
GREYHOUND ❋ Aeon Ginsberg
Money moves through the body of people and all there is for me to grasp is myself
KIND OF ANIMAL ❋ Kyla Jamieson
sometimes it's exhausting to be awake and alive at the same time
GLOW STICK ❋ Ivanna Baranova
somewhere in me exists a so-called original urge to align with the astral body
HAPPY HOUR IN THE DECLINE OF CIVILIZATION ❋ Jakob Maier
Type ‘how’ & see how it autofills— how to be a happy person how to sleep better
[NEUROTIC LOVE BABY] ❋ Marie Conlan
Thumbs like torn paintings. Eyes like ponds stretched over the plains of the middle west
FIRE REGIME ❋ Matthew Girolami
Our shelter a vision: verdant glitch apparition of green green grass
NO PROBLEMATICS ❋ Viola Chen
If you can untangle the sections of who you are, then you can sell ’em on Etsy as organic ingredients, or more profitably, a cross stitch. Welcome to 2018, bitch Welcome to the rest of your miserable money life.
DOG WOMAN ❋ Melinda Freudenberger
curled up at my feet you are innocent to the thought of a different universe / your unhinged devotion blinding even me
NYMPH DRAINAGE ❋ L. Christie
A mass of primordial colours, I am a blossom In the watery cup of it Thank you, Thank you. Gouache, the tea- Coloured light Coming through the bay window
PARA VOCÊ ❋ Alexandra Khan-Anselmo
there is no place i can visit you no tombstone with your name our name no tree no park bench you who never had a home no coisas nossas
PLEASURE CRAFT ❋ Stevie Belchak
schedule a virtual appointment to view my sadness over many small windows
PYTHONESS ❋ Maija Ekey
totality &nd movement & n d the law of one b l i ss ful sur ren d er audible befr it is visible
THE CHOICE IS REAL ❋ Jayson Keery
That all of these children were made for what. For their upper halves. Their mouths. For what goes in them. In.
YOU HAD TO OPPOSE MIRACLES ❋ Georgia Faust
I can’t tell down spruce miles from this avenue perspective motion away from motion approaching
BAD REPUTATION ❋ Alex Manley
No snares in the drums. So alone in so much of me. I’m not in love with you, or anyone. I’m in love with tension
BOSTON VS LOS ANGELES ❋ John Colasacco
their souls are a mouth inside a mouth