Author Archives: tributaryjournal

There is so much evil in the world! I am running late to the party! I shouldn’t have worn Doc Martens. I can feel the blisters now. Isn’t vegan leather softer, springier? Sure, there are things I don’t like: these holes forming in my socks, poems where every line is capitalized. But you’re here andContinue reading “A Love Poem Where We Go to a Party to celebrate Everything and Nothing! – Jadey Holcomb”

Cracked stone throbs like sorrowful hearts, Their stones ajar as an open maw. Midnight drips from the rafters, waxen, Air damp with musk. My skin appears bare— Absent of scratched metal, Chilled at the thought of missed battles, Ghosts appearing as brands. Their whispers no longer a shock, Inflicted with madness long Before my firstContinue reading “Pyre’s Night – Audrey Donnell”

somersault; over over over in kaleidoscope colors. S’faster this way to go down down down the stairs- Tag! You’re it, stay in in in curled fern. You’re in the way okay? Just hop, jump, skip the hug- Go Fish, One word, five letters, four! You pants are on fire, The truth is whatever she wants. Continue reading “Somersaults – Melissa Baker”

I am the one holding the lit match.                  And I am the one burning. And                             I like that the fire is kind enough                   to leave me a body in another form. And I am the one pouring the                    water of my eyes to quench the fire.                             To soak the weightContinue reading “Self-immolation – Gospel Chinedu”

 Delphinium and oleander       oleander spritz, my love—             as irreverent as I make it sound                 I did love you—I do love you                      you that were the exoskeleton             of my eye and my reverence      You that taught my consecration You that taught me to discern      star from fruitflesh, moon                    Continue reading “Oleanders Sing at Night – Anupama Choudhury”

If light upon this river would not dim If moonbeams lingered, stars would yet dwell near; If when our Summer sang her final hymn The shadows kept themselves far from this sphere; I would, in earnest, make attempts to stay. But Dusk climbs over every mountain’s peak It’s spectral glance turns living things away  AndContinue reading “October Sonnet – Elenya Hempstead”

The miracle did not shout my name. It came like a soft tap inside my chest: A delay! A missed step! A quiet feeling that said, Do not go yet. I once turned back for no reason. The bus I missed later broke. People called it luck! I stood shaking! Knowing something unseen, Had stoodContinue reading “Ofo – Anselm Eme”