I followed the vibrations to the chapel expecting to be scorned by pews of real people, the ones to whom god answers in a delicate dream. Hit by the emptiness and a need to laugh, listening to the organ sound in my body, a chord hit below my sternum and released a cold breath. IContinue reading “The Abbeys – Logan Edwards”
Author Archives: tributaryjournal
Pelagic – Danielle Slater
Do the benthic creatures ever look up? Would they mistake my buoyancy for flight? I float amongst a constellation of bioluminescence Perpetually bathed in hues of blue light To the bottom of the ocean, I am a bird To the birds, I am a negligible ant in the dirt. But I’m not foolish enough toContinue reading “Pelagic – Danielle Slater”
Scenes from a Goblin-town – Asher Frost
1. A trickster down Yeshien Way says I don’t know half’s what I say. Told him he lied He koinsidently died, from a rock to his noggin anyway… 2. Too many cooks in the kitchin too many wysards in the pot If they don’t stop they’re sisslin they’s be a meel cooked too hot 3.Continue reading “Scenes from a Goblin-town – Asher Frost”
Untitled Poem for Lambs – Olivia Macneil
Down River Road, the devil’s disciples testify his word over the FM as I pass an angel split open from tummy to neck; the poor man’s trophy. I once had a (southern) friend say this is the South of the North and she’s right; it makes itself known in stickers, flags, and how proper knowsContinue reading “Untitled Poem for Lambs – Olivia Macneil”
I Hate Spotify – Hannah Kim
Spotify has a feature where you can see the current listening activity of the people you are mutually following. Sometimes I send screenshots to my friends when I catch them listening to songs I also like, or if I catch them listening to Pitbull on a Tuesday at 3am for some reason. There are peopleContinue reading “I Hate Spotify – Hannah Kim”
Running – Viach
I’ve started going on a run every night. Good training for my line of work. More importantly, it helps with the shakes, you know? The shakes. They start from the base of the spine (a tingle at first, a warning) and crawl their way to my scalp to my arms to my hands till youContinue reading “Running – Viach”
Hesitation – Sabrina Burns
Natural turn. Change step. Reverse turn. Keep forty-five degrees diagonal down the line of dance. Spin turn. Don’t get dizzy and step on Andrew’s $170 black leather shoes. Every misplaced step would only earn you another tight-lipped grimace and sigh. His hand would constrict around yours, a warning for you not to fuck up again.Continue reading “Hesitation – Sabrina Burns”
Already There – Kevin Sandefur
Darren had breakfast every morning with his mother. She never ate much, even when she was still alive. Now she didn’t touch her omelet at all. Darren had noticed a long time ago that it always seemed to be the same omelet, and he wondered sometimes what was in it. Denver omelets had been herContinue reading “Already There – Kevin Sandefur”
Elephant Rock – Harper Lower
I walk a dog now. I forgot his name on the first day and have been afraid to ask again. I’ve been calling him The Dog. Like a canine Lebowski ego. He’s a big boned dog, and scruffy like that. Naming him myself made me feel less bad about rolling out of bed first thingContinue reading “Elephant Rock – Harper Lower”
Letter from the Editor – Fall 2024
The editing team at The Tributary invites you to enjoy an issue that celebrates nature, history, and the self through pieces that are in challenging poetic forms, historical fiction, photographs, drawings and more. The website has undergone some changes, hopefully, to make it easier for readers to view full works. Be on the lookout asContinue reading “Letter from the Editor – Fall 2024”
Nostalgia by Soren Ashman
Dandelion by Sara Van Reymersdal
I’ve always been a weedflower shooting up from sidewalk cracks, siphoning water from the tulips, clawing out of the heavy mulch because the gardeners decided I wasn’t good enough. Time and time again—from poison, shears, or wood chips—they hissed, go away. You don’t belong. Yet I couldn’t abandon my life on their whim. Each timeContinue reading “Dandelion by Sara Van Reymersdal”
Survival of the Smallest by Ella J. Rossman
On my hike I pause for water by the remains of a tree. I observe from my sitting place deer bounding past And squirrels skittering through layers of leaves. I hear a mechanical roar down the mountain, Which I try to ignore. A far away crack, then a crash— Another ancient life lost. My handsContinue reading “Survival of the Smallest by Ella J. Rossman”
Athazagoraphobia by Julia Stetts
The earthworm flattens, and the neon Soles of a boy’s Sketchers light up: The only ceremony for the thing’s death. What’s left: a steam-rolled flesh tube, Streamers of guts trailing from behind: Cherry-red, piss-yellow, and livery-purple. Mid-July heat reduces the corpse To a mummified crisp cemented Onto grey concrete, hot as a griddle. A murderContinue reading “Athazagoraphobia by Julia Stetts”
The Peace Testimony by Amanda Charowsky
Chester County in the Pennsylvania Countryside, 1777 Her father left at the same time every night. Two hours before supper— if he was even back for it. She still prepared the cold meats and cheeses, watched from the kitchen as he lowered his head, stepped out into the waning autumn sunlight, and stood at theContinue reading “The Peace Testimony by Amanda Charowsky”
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