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Seventeenth century violin: Used
twice, guaranteed to harness the departed
souls of a beloved pet. Pillow:
soft enough to couch each rumbling
dream. Organs: harvested fresh
from nutritionally-built up prisoners, free
of disease, while supplies last.
Eyes—surgically implanted
on pink pineapples blessed
by the Pope, certified in tongues
to reverse hexes, unwanted
gifts, and othersuch witchcraft (sprinkle
with holy water once daily
for desired effect). Infant pythons
and boa constrictors plucked
from a sleeping gorgon’s scalp—
because looks will kill
or render immobile. Lifetime warranties
apply. Empty husk of rainbow engineered
to blind assailants—good
for single use only. Promises
in place of a goodbye: Return
if seal is broken. Blanket
of stars: Weightless
as memory, warm
as home—never used. Kindly
press “Purchase” to verify validity
of destination and
please prepare
exact payment.



Alyza Taguilaso is a resident doctor training in General Surgery at Ospital ng Muntinlupa in the Philippines. Her poems have been shortlisted for the Bridport Poetry Prize and published in several publications, including ANMLY, High Chair, Stone Telling, and Kritika Kultura. You can find her at wordpress (@alyzataguilastorm) or instagram (@ventral).
Current Issue
16 Dec 2024

Across the train tracks from BWI station, a portal shimmered in the shade of a patch of tall trees. From her seat on a northbound train taking on passengers, Dottie watched a woman slip a note out of her pocket, place it under a rock, strip off her work uniform, then walk naked, smiling, into the portal.
exposing to the bone just how different we are
a body protesting thinks itself as a door out of a darkroom, a bullet, too.
In this episode of SH@25, Editor Kat Kourbeti sits down with Vivian (Xiao Wen) Li to discuss her foray into poetry, screenwriting, music composition and more, and also presents a reading of her two poems published in 2022, 'Ave Maria' and 'The Mezzanine'.
Issue 9 Dec 2024
Issue 2 Dec 2024
By: E.M. Linden
Podcast read by: Jenna Hanchey
Issue 25 Nov 2024
Issue 18 Nov 2024
By: Susannah Rand
Podcast read by: Claire McNerney
Issue 11 Nov 2024
Issue 4 Nov 2024
Issue 28 Oct 2024
Issue 21 Oct 2024
By: KT Bryski
Podcast read by: Devin Martin
Issue 14 Oct 2024
Issue 7 Oct 2024
By: Christopher Blake
Podcast read by: Emmie Christie
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