Back to Issue 10.

[Untitled Kingdom]

Johnathan Lay

lies in lies
          in wait
the inscrutable difference of sound
          the raging screams of extremes

          the blackout of fairness
                    found [in white]

might I say:
          throned + crumbled + rebuilt
                    + sundried     a gospel

to hold and left to blows
          subjected subjects—the kingdom

of names forgotten, seized + blocked + forged
          with Atlanta brought to flames

beware the regal blue
          now sits our plantation whips
          popular leaves grow
in the street

[and i take liberties with your cock]

Johnathan Lay

this is what the liquor
does to us; the loss
of our inhibitions
have sweated through these sheets—

less room in the loneliness
that keeps us pressed here
unable to speak hot realness of our souls

I kiss the underside of your chin
and moan a distant prayer 
to keep you wanting

though, I’ve forgotten your name
I call to you in curse words
you answer by fucking me
deeper

about the writer

Johnathan Lay is a Southern writer living in New York City. His poetry explores ideas of race, sexuality, and their intersections. He is a graduate of Georgia College and State University and received his MFA from University of San Francisco. He’s been published in the anthology Not Just Another Pretty Face, Efniks.com (now Colorbloq.com), Heard/Word, and others. He’s an avid reader and stan of Marvel comics especially the X-men. And he’s always on the lookout for the perfect margarita.