"An Introduction to Chaos Magic(k)" offers a nuanced portrayal of a young woman in the digital age, navigating a complex web of societal pressures, personal insecurities, and self-imposed fantasies. The poem is a striking exploration of how contemporary youth, particularly those on the fringes of traditional and digital cultures, grapple with identity, purpose, and reality in an increasingly fragmented world. The character, a self-styled “metaverse brujita,” embodies the contradictions of modern existence: she is both a product of her environment and an active participant in its creation, constructing a persona that reflects the intersection of digital hyper-reality and archaic mystical beliefs.

Through vivid imagery and detailed descriptions, the poem captures the essence of this young woman’s world—a world where the boundaries between reality and fantasy blur, where identity is both curated and chaotic, and where the pursuit of meaning is fraught with pitfalls. Her life, marked by a series of contradictions—spiritual yet nihilistic, empowered yet fragile, creative yet destructive—serves as a commentary on the broader cultural shifts in the 21st century, particularly the resurgence of mysticism in an era dominated by technology and social media.

The character's engagement with chaos magic, astrology, and other occult practices is depicted not merely as a quirky lifestyle choice but as a desperate attempt to assert control over a life that feels increasingly out of her hands. Her belief in these practices, coupled with her deep-seated insecurities and a pervasive sense of disillusionment, underscores the psychological and emotional turbulence that defines her existence. The poem suggests that these practices, while providing temporary solace, ultimately exacerbate her sense of alienation and contribute to a broader cultural drift toward irrationality and superstition.

Yet, despite her flaws and the toxic elements of her worldview, the poem also expresses a degree of empathy for her. The character’s struggles are emblematic of a generation caught between the promises of technology and the harsh realities of a world that often fails to deliver on those promises. Her dreams, however misguided, are genuine, and her efforts to find meaning and self-worth in a confusing and often hostile world are portrayed with a measure of compassion. The poet’s reflection at the end of the piece acknowledges the character’s potential for growth and change, even as it critiques the cultural forces that shape her.

midst the backdrop of LA's gaunt beauty, sculpted by missed meals and Starbucks, she dons a SpongeBob baseball cap and a Queen of Pentacles tarot card tattoo, symbols that reflect both her childlike nostalgia and her aspirations toward mystical power. Her IG bio declares her a "metaverse brujita," a digital witch navigating the ether with a blend of technology and spirituality, while her surroundings—a one-room world decorated in a mishmash of enchanted forest fairycore and steampunk vintage—mirror her inner turmoil. As she sits on her $400 Moon Pod, she attempts a "mindfulness ritual" meant to exorcise self-loathing and embrace her inner child, but beneath the surface, her actions are driven by a deeper, sublinguistic hope to ward off the growing bitterness toward reality itself.

The poem delves into her psyche, revealing her struggles with identity, her obsession with social validation, and her flirtations with nihilism. Her interactions on social media, her curated digital presence, and her consumption of pop culture all contribute to a sense of disconnection from reality, as she grapples with feelings of inadequacy and the fear of being ordinary. Her rituals, her creative endeavors, and even her relationships are tainted by this inner conflict, as she oscillates between grandiose delusions of self-importance and the crushing weight of self-doubt.

The poem’s narrative is interspersed with moments of raw vulnerability, such as her reflection on past traumas, her obsessive focus on physical imperfections, and her fantasies of escape into a world where she is the central figure—untouched by the harsh judgments of the real world. Yet, despite her struggles, there is a sense of resilience in her, a potential for growth that flickers beneath the layers of magical thinking and victimhood. The author’s note that follows the poem offers a critical yet empathetic perspective, acknowledging the protagonist's flaws while also recognizing her humanity and potential for positive change.

Ultimately, "An Introduction to Chaos Magic(k)" is a poignant exploration of the challenges faced by a generation caught between the digital and the real, the magical and the mundane, as they search for meaning and identity in an increasingly chaotic world. The poem captures the tension between the desire for control and the fear of being overwhelmed by forces beyond one's understanding, offering a nuanced portrayal of a young woman on the edge of self-discovery.

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The Printout is a vivid, emotionally charged narrative that plunges the reader into the frantic, anxiety-ridden world of a latchkey adolescent. The poem meticulously chronicles the boy’s desperate attempts to cover up evidence of his secret, deviant activities before his mother’s inevitable return, capturing both his internal turmoil and the oppressive atmosphere of his home.

The opening lines set the tone of urgency and fear: "It was a heart-pounding last-minute scramble— / a dance the barely-teen latchkey knew by heart." This immediately draws the reader into the boy’s routine of hiding his transgressions, indicating that this is a familiar, albeit distressing, ritual.

The boy’s actions are described with a stark, almost clinical precision: "He washed his lather-proof hand (over dishes) / as best he could, his pelvic floor still echoing." The mention of his "pelvic floor still echoing" suggests recent masturbation, adding to the sense of guilt and shame. The detailed hiding of various incriminating items—petroleum jelly, a makeshift masturbatory device, and skid-stained panties—paints a picture of a young boy grappling with his burgeoning sexuality in isolation and fear.

The imagery of "rocks in its radon walls like eyes" and "curtain shadows ghostly on wood-panel walls" evokes a sense of surveillance and paranoia, as if the house itself is judging him. This feeling is compounded by the anticipation of his mother’s arrival, marked by the "door slam / reverberating through the uninsulated hollows."

The poem’s climax centers around the titular printout, an inkjet image of a pornographic nature that the boy had used moments before: "Smackdab on the living room carpet, / in the traffic-worn path, lay an inkjet image— / washed out from a cartridge low on black, / too yellow from an empty cyan—pixilated / on printer paper: black thighs, spread-eagle." The boy’s meticulous efforts to conceal his actions are rendered futile by this overlooked detail, which his mother discovers with horror.

The mother's reaction—"What the fuck is this?!"—heightens the tension, her repeated exclamations underscoring the shock and disgust she feels. The boy's simultaneous dread and curiosity are palpable: "Yet by the time he reached the cold doorknob, / confident there was no way he failed to cover / every taboo track, he found himself possessed / more so by a twisted curiosity to learn, that if / by some crazy chance he had been found out, / what damning detail he could have missed."

The final lines of the poem convey the boy’s paralysis and fear: "she thrust the gleaming gorgon head (half-balled) / out in his direction (arm’s length), turning him / to stone in the ramshackle threshold, his expiry / dribbling coagulated to black waitress sneakers." The "gleaming gorgon head" metaphorically transforms the printout into a Medusa-like figure, turning the boy to stone with its damning revelation. The imagery of his "expiry / dribbling coagulated to black waitress sneakers" suggests both his psychological death and the physical evidence of his shame.

The Printout masterfully explores themes of secrecy, shame, and the complexities of adolescent sexuality. Through its detailed narrative and rich imagery, the poem captures the intense emotions of a young boy caught between his private desires and the harsh judgment of the outside world.

In "AA Meeting," M. A. Istvan Jr. captures the raw, unfiltered experience of a struggling individual at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, portraying the intensity and fragility of early sobriety. The poem opens with the vivid image of a hand fidgeting with "metallic ratatats," a metaphor that evokes the nervous energy and inner turmoil of someone wrestling with addiction. This hand, described as "too broken, too shifty in accent," symbolizes the fragmented and unstable state of the individual, whose mind is likened to "the brainstem wall scrabblings of a feral cat in a drown barrel." This powerful metaphor not only conveys a sense of desperation and entrapment but also the chaotic and primal instincts driving the addict's behavior.

The setting of the poem, a church basement, is significant as it underscores the solemnity and communal aspect of AA meetings, where individuals seek solace and support. The "knuckle staccato" shaking the basement suggests the pervasive anxiety and restlessness within the group, a shared struggle that is both individual and collective. The speaker's scowl, directed leftward, reflects a silent plea for connection or understanding, one that is met with desolation, highlighting the isolation often felt by those battling addiction.

The pivotal moment in the poem occurs on the speaker's seventh day of sobriety, a time when the temptation to relapse is particularly strong. The speaker's hand, in an almost involuntary act, reaches out to still the "whacko rudiments" of the fidgeting hand. This gesture of human connection, though seemingly small, carries profound significance. The physical touch not only steadies the fidgeting hand but also provides a grounding moment for the speaker, who finds an unexpected strength in this act of solidarity.

The convergence of eyes within the circle upon this touch signifies a collective acknowledgment and support, a crucial aspect of the AA community. The speaker, initially tempted to use this moment as an "excuse to go home, to mainline oblivion," instead finds the strength to remain present. The fact that the fidgeting hand does not pull away, but rather holds the speaker's hand throughout the session, symbolizes mutual support and a shared commitment to recovery. This touch, "faithful" and unwavering, becomes the catalyst for the speaker to speak for the first time, breaking through the barrier of silence and isolation.

Istvan's poem poignantly captures the delicate balance between despair and hope, illustrating how small acts of human connection can provide the strength needed to overcome the urge to relapse. The depiction of the AA meeting, with its raw and visceral imagery, offers a powerful testament to the resilience of individuals in recovery and the importance of community in the journey toward sobriety.

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Michael Anthony Istvan Jr.'s poem "On the Forest Trail" offers a harrowing exploration of memory, guilt, and moral corruption through the narrator’s troubled relationship with a mentally impaired girl from his past. The poem, divided into three sections, meticulously unveils layers of darkness and complexity, reflecting Istvan's deep engagement with the themes of exploitation and psychological trauma.

The first section immerses the reader in a series of grotesque and vivid images that delineate the girl’s existence. Her compulsive hoarding and secretive consumption of Tootsie Rolls in hidden, filthy nooks reflect a desperate search for comfort in an environment marked by neglect and decay. Istvan’s language is stark and unflinching, describing the girl’s hiding places under a urine-soaked mattress, within a closet contaminated with cat excrement, and in a drainpipe near a bus stop. These settings, alongside the girl's physical description—her bull-necked frame, her scissored bangs, and cross-eyed glare—construct a portrait of someone marginalized and dehumanized. The narrator's detailed observations hint at a voyeuristic fascination, compounded by an underlying sense of complicity and guilt.

Transitioning to the forest trail in the second section, Istvan juxtaposes the girl's primal existence with the narrator's more complex and morally ambiguous feelings. The forest trail becomes a setting where the narrator momentarily escapes societal norms, finding a perverse solace in the girl’s presence. She is depicted as almost elemental, an embodiment of pure, unfiltered existence. This stark contrast to the narrator's internal turmoil highlights his envy of her simplicity and unawareness. However, the narrative quickly takes a darker turn as the narrator describes his sexual exploitation of the girl with brutal honesty. The explicit details serve to underscore the depth of his moral depravity and the girl's complete vulnerability.

The final section of the poem confronts the lasting impact of these experiences on the narrator. The image of the girl's oversized, neon windbreaker becomes a powerful symbol of his unresolved guilt and the omnipresent weight of his past actions. This piece of clothing, with its faded vibrancy, haunts the narrator throughout his life, intruding into his domestic and professional spaces. It represents the inescapable nature of his moral failings and the enduring presence of his guilt. The narrator’s reflection on his actions reveals a profound self-recrimination, acknowledging his cowardice and the priority he gave to societal perception over genuine care and responsibility.

Istvan’s "On the Forest Trail" is a potent exploration of the darker aspects of human nature, forcing readers to confront uncomfortable truths about exploitation, guilt, and the long-term consequences of our actions. The poem's unflinching language and vivid imagery create a compelling narrative that challenges readers to grapple with the complexity of moral decay and psychological trauma.

Keywords:

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**Tribular** is a stark and gritty exploration of the lives of the poor in a decaying urban environment. Through vivid and often harsh imagery, the poem paints a portrait of a community struggling with poverty, neglect, and societal disdain. The poem's tone is unflinchingly honest, capturing the raw reality of life in a place where survival is a daily challenge.

The poem begins with a direct address, situating the reader in a city characterized by its disadvantaged population—BOCES students and middle-school dropouts. The imagery of "rocket-thrusting" suggests a frenetic, desperate energy driving the inhabitants. The focus shifts to the poor, depicted as marginalized and overlooked, their presence a stark contrast to the downtown areas undergoing hipster-led gentrification.

The water imagery is particularly striking, with well-water described as "crimson" and flammable, highlighting the hazardous living conditions. This dangerous water becomes a point of pride, a macabre joke in a place where humor serves as a coping mechanism. The kerosene heaters and tock-tocking buckets paint a picture of makeshift, precarious living arrangements, while the description of utility-grade bacon in white cartons emphasizes the low quality of available food.

Pride and defiance emerge as themes, with the poor boasting not just about their hardships but also about their ability to read, steal, and fight. Their struggle with literacy is depicted with a touch of irony, as they attempt to read words like "hickory smoked" with a mix of determination and humor. This struggle is a metaphor for their broader fight for dignity and recognition.

The poem delves into the physical and social ramifications of poverty. The inhabitants' health issues—rickets, lead exposure, obesity, warts, retardation, and flu—are laid bare, illustrating the toll that poverty takes on the body and mind. The image of "teen diarrheas from diaper to hair" conveys the squalor and lack of sanitation in their living conditions.

Despite the grim circumstances, the poem highlights a sense of community and loyalty. Friends and family members are brought into their homes, regardless of the strain it puts on already limited resources. This tribalism, though post-industrial and tainted by the smell of bleach and shit, offers a semblance of support and solidarity.

The poem concludes with a personal touch, describing visits from the narrator's mother. Her act of giving the narrator an old blanket, used by those in dire conditions, symbolizes the persistence of familial bonds and care even in the face of overwhelming adversity.

In summary, **Tribular** is a powerful and unflinching examination of poverty and resilience. Through its vivid, often brutal imagery, the poem captures the harsh realities of life on the margins, while also acknowledging the strength and defiance of those who endure it.