The men at the cafe
︎︎︎ Pierre Minar
︎ Nov 13, 2025
have eyelids, a little limp,
bowed, bound
tilted to telephones about
sixty degrees gently
upon the vee of the crotch,
on the border between
masturbation and prayer;
Mandibles taut and swift
brown thumbs opposing
make-believe maniples;
Every man believes
he’d’ve made a great
ancient general;
Let’s wrestle together—
after the battle’s release,
relief; Rest brothers
Everything’s taken care of
or will be soon
bowed, bound
tilted to telephones about
sixty degrees gently
upon the vee of the crotch,
on the border between
masturbation and prayer;
Mandibles taut and swift
brown thumbs opposing
make-believe maniples;
Every man believes
he’d’ve made a great
ancient general;
Let’s wrestle together—
after the battle’s release,
relief; Rest brothers
Everything’s taken care of
or will be soon
Pierre Minar is an able horseman.
Fermat’s Last Theorem (in Diophantus’ Arithmetica), 1637
︎︎︎ Jordan Castro
︎ Nov 12, 2025
It is impossible to separate a cube into
two cubes, or a fourth power into two
fourth powers, or in general, any power
higher than the second, into two like
powers. I have discovered a truly
marvelous proof of this, which this
margin is too narrow to contain.
two cubes, or a fourth power into two
fourth powers, or in general, any power
higher than the second, into two like
powers. I have discovered a truly
marvelous proof of this, which this
margin is too narrow to contain.
*This is one of Jordan’s marginalia poems, composed from the marginal notes of other authors.*
Jordan Castro is the author of the novels Muscle Man (2025) and The Novelist (2022).
Also by Jordan: Lent
I want to write you
︎︎︎ Zachary Swezy
︎ Nov 11, 2025
a symphony.
Only, I lack
the sinfonietta.
Instead, I'll use
old threads of thought
that hum our hearts
to shreds. Come back,
through the shroud
Almighty. Lull
us both to bed.
Only, I lack
the sinfonietta.
Instead, I'll use
old threads of thought
that hum our hearts
to shreds. Come back,
through the shroud
Almighty. Lull
us both to bed.
Eclipse of the Public Body (Given Freely)
︎︎︎ Jason
︎ Nov 10, 2025
What gives you, in your peculiar nature,
Right, natural or divine—you, called woman—
To follow me into my father's home
And speak of me in hurried tones to men
Of decent standing, once my friends, my friend?
You burst out laughing when I called you friend.
And so we ate, where you told me and I
Told you, I do not love you. So we drank,
In order to forget who struck the blow
And told you you were naked (being filmed),
Without the sacrament,
the moon between,
The price you paid in breath to see the son.
I'm grateful still to hear my name
Live on your lips: the dearest girl on earth.
Right, natural or divine—you, called woman—
To follow me into my father's home
And speak of me in hurried tones to men
Of decent standing, once my friends, my friend?
You burst out laughing when I called you friend.
And so we ate, where you told me and I
Told you, I do not love you. So we drank,
In order to forget who struck the blow
And told you you were naked (being filmed),
Without the sacrament,
the moon between,
The price you paid in breath to see the son.
I'm grateful still to hear my name
Live on your lips: the dearest girl on earth.
Jason writes about God, women, and the problem of words. He argues with the people he loves and calls it prayer. He hopes this will lead us to mercy.
Video Games
︎︎︎ Alara Kaplanoğlu
︎ Nov 8, 2025
My dad is playing video games in the room. I am drawing a map of a baseball field.
He is about to shoot someone. I am about to go to the bathroom and look further into this.
A crouching man
Lit by the sun streaming
Though the electric blinds
Revealing dust
floating in space
and what is
between him
and his TV.
He is about to shoot someone. I am about to go to the bathroom and look further into this.
A crouching man
Lit by the sun streaming
Though the electric blinds
Revealing dust
floating in space
and what is
between him
and his TV.
Alara Kaplanoğlu was born and raised in Istanbul. She researches seabirds.