by Zakia Carpenter-Hall | Apr 30, 2026 | Featured, Poetry
Reflex That was the time you caught the mumps and I was half afraid I’d catch it too. Or it was measles and it was me who had it, lying in bed for days reading the bible – children’s version, illustrated – where the devil was all red and had pig’s...
by Zakia Carpenter-Hall | Apr 29, 2026 | Featured, Poetry
Prevention Science Walking home from the lecture on Frankenstein through the November mizzle, small breaths of exhaust sighing in the twilight headlights, particles of wet air commingling. When I look into the branches of the evergreens I can...
by Zakia Carpenter-Hall | Apr 28, 2026 | Uncategorized
Morning mis-en-scène Silence draped across the furniture like fine webbing to catch intruders. Toys left mid-performance, before bedtime’s siren, you marching upstairs. Night made an exhibit of you, a collection of imprints in the mess. I give...
by Zakia Carpenter-Hall | Apr 27, 2026 | Featured, Poetry
Octopus I am one Like short of being beautiful. Five hundred more Followers, I’m away to fight culture wars. I Block two for lies Quora does not verify. Counter-factuals are ok, there’s simmering wastelands to make out of vague, but someone sent a shroom...
by Zakia Carpenter-Hall | Apr 26, 2026 | Uncategorized
Before It Had a Name Nothing was wrong yet. That’s the easiest lie to remember. It was just a shift— sleep a little lighter, thoughts a little louder, a need for something I couldn’t quite name. I still showed up. Still laughed at the right...
