Published in Coalitionworks 2023 Winter Issue

I have some great news to kick off the new year. I have been published in the 2023 winter issue of coalitionworks. This newer literary journal showcases the work of many interesting writers. These writers come from all stages of the writer’s journey: established, middle-of-the-road, and emerging writers. One thing I love about this journal is that it’s not afraid to take risks and publish work that takes chances.

Having run my own literary journal for seven years, I understand how much work goes into reading submissions and finding the best fit for your needs. So I really appreciate all the work that has gone into putting together the issue I’m featured in. And if I’m honest, it’s nice being on the other side of the submission process for a change.

Coalitionworks features two of my poems, “Urban Petting Zoo” and “See Yourself.” My first poem, Urban Petting Zoo—clearly the better of the two—deals with urban warfare from the perspective of a mother who desperately tries to shield her daughter from the daily carnage. In order to normalize what is happening and to avoid (to the best of her abilities) traumatizing her daughter, the mother tells her story through a poem that uses animal imagery to describe what is happening; much like how a parent might attempt to placate their child by downplaying what is really occurring during a terrible event. My two inspirations for this piece were the war in Ukraine and the movie “Life is Beautiful” which features a similar premise but is set during WWII. Suppose you’re unfamiliar with the movie (you should watch it because it’s amazing). In that case, it’s about a father who convinces his son that their capture and confinement in a Jewish concentration camp are all part of an elaborate game.

My second poem, See Yourself, is about how unrealistic beauty standards cause depression and turn those affected into mindless consumers. It’s not a long piece but it does touch on some relatable emotions.

Anyway, I’m excited to hear what you all think about my poems and the journal. If you like it, please feel free to share the links below. One is for my poems on Coalition for Digital Narratives (this version has a recording of me reading the poems!), and the second link is for the free PDF version of coalitionworks winter issue. I highly recommend checking out the pdf version because not only do you get to read other great pieces, but it looks damn cool as well.