by Kevin Madrigal

I park in the Mission
always looking out for “no parking” and “no stopping” signs
on my way to work.
Today I walk past the Centro Latino de San Francisco
and notice one sign, adorned.
In bright red letters on a white background it says “No Stopping”
and hanging just a couple feet down from its text

La Bandera Mexicana
El tri color
Mexicanos y latinos unidos
En la Misión

They put up signs that say we can’t stop here
we’re supposed to continue on our way. … READ MORE

1.
no dignity in labor in twenty-nineteen
exhausted bodies drag themselves through traffic
for a pittance piecing together meagre sustenance
from 2 or 3 jobs with no benefits
the kids helpin out squweegeeing car windows
for crissake
and police dont allow such obstruction
who use tear gas and tasers on small bodies
resistance gets you 20 to life
in this cruel land of plenty for the few

2.
what is it in a picture that can turn the tide? … READ MORE

by A. A. Vincent 

All the brothers are ghosts
One escaped into a prodigal son
The next lost his body, buried within him
& he? he misplaced his memories in a cage
That one? he can’t see the sun around him
& another slipped into the bloody pavement
& ‘bout him? he sleeps under the construction of dreams that aren’t his
I spoke to a 7th & his temporal lobe had a wheel lock on it

All the brothers are hollow names in the air
I’ve been offering peace to their sorrow-slips
& … READ MORE

by Rory Talley

WHAT ABOUT WHAT 
WHAT ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS, YES ARE BETTER SAID
WHAT HOPS IN?

“A MIND, A BRAIN; 
LOOKING NOT TO BE 
SUSTAINED, TO BE STAINED
UNTIL STRANGED BY THE STRANGLER
THE TRANGLING STRANGER.

“PURSUE REGAINING CONTROL
OVER THOSE THINGS THAT 
ARE AVAILABLE TO HAVE
SUCH A RELATIONSHIP AS THAT 
WITH IT’

ASSUAGEMENT SEEKING VALIDATION, AMELIORATED KIND

SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT
AND YOU WILL SAVE THE CHILDREN
LET EVERYTHING AROUND COLLAPSE
AROUND
AND YOU FIND BENEATH THE RUBBLE
RIGHT ALONGSIDE OF YOU
THE SOMEONE YOU DIDN’T EXPECT
TO SEE

HOLDING A CHILD THAT YOU LOVE, … READ MORE