Author: laurenalwan

Emergency Exit Only, by Lenny DellaRocca Listen here: Androgynous and mute the saint points to the door.What strikes me is the color.It changes. And it’s luminous.The room is coming apartat the walls though no onenotices. They’re on theirmachines working outso that they look goodwhen they die. I’m notgood with saints, tell me,whoever you are,have we … Continue reading Americana Stories—Poetry

Scenic Railway, Rockaway Playland, by Ellen Devlin Listen to the poem here: July threw a blue-white vapor of heatbetween me and a clattering behemothon Beach & 98th Street. Held up by wooden slats, sturdy as cathedralribs—Playland, lettered on its curved face like  a bully’s smile.  Six tickets handed to a boy holding a rope lifted from a … Continue reading Americana Stories—Poetry

Wearable Americana, by Jim Ross Listen to the essay here:    photograph courtesy of the author Prior generations didn’t throw things away if they could be patched up or repurposed. As a pre-teen, Dad took me to buy a pair of black leather shoes, which I (i.e., he) had resoled and reheeled seven times. When Mom … Continue reading Americana Stories—Nonfiction

Dusk at the Codependence Inn, by Jessica Abughattas I feel a sense of betrayal, for it should be you inside myknowing, and they left outside, tied on the porch.Early evening, flecked raspberry. Light muddledmountain. Your speech mushrooms like a wick.I wait inside the minutes until it finishes. What lightremains clicks deeper in swatches as I … Continue reading Americana Stories—Poetry

Divorce, by B.A. Van Sise Listen to the poem here: Driving down the DeltaHighway with my wife,we hit a pothole, hurting-severely- the Hertz rentalwe keep on putting throughmud, gravel, unraveling asphalt on a three day benderwending along the Mississippitoward the day we return it,fine on the outside in spite of all the damage to its shocks,the rocks … Continue reading Americana Stories—Poetry

Waves, by Andrew Malo My earliest memory is seeing the anteater on a dock at sea. I thought he was a lamppost because his arms were hidden underneath a trench coat. His nose extended at least twelve inches. He had a badly styled bullcut of dark brown hair that reached his glassy domed eyes. Before … Continue reading Americana Stories—Fiction

Until All the Cows Come Home, by Jerry Johnson folk broadcast bull over airwavesall day long until all the cows comehome and Malcom said “the chickenscome home to roost” and Malcom isgone but not forgotten and Martin is gonebut not forgotten and Emmitt Till stillweeps and blood still runs deep inLangston’s Rivers and the liars … Continue reading Americana Stories—Poetry

Two Poems by Claudia Hernandez At the Zoo After Bolaño’s “La Francesa” & “Lupe” I  woke  up  with a quiet mind  today. Drank a cup of coffee. Gotdressed and rode my bike  headed south,  to  the  riverbed.  Final destination:   a  wooden   bench   facing  a  boat   crammed   withtourists. Whale watching:  Adults … Continue reading Americana Stories—Poetry

Two Poems by Mihir Bellamkonda Listen to Mihir read New Orleans: Listen to Mihir read Dallas: New Orleans River What a noise you make;I do not wonder you hide in your slouching cityfrom the solemn and vanishing stars. I understand. I too have broken my bounds in anger and joy,swollen my body in the spring … Continue reading Americana Stories—Poetry

What We Came All This Way For, by John Schneider “Daylight is not what we came all this way for”                                     — Philip Levine We arrived, sheathed in the hospital’s gray shadowand the unexpected darkness beneath tall green palms, a pair of common mynah birds harmonizing their elegywith our uncertain steps and with her distant IV … Continue reading Americana Stories—Poetry