Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts

Graphic featuring an excerpt from “Prayer” by Debmalya Bandyopadhyay. The text reads: “Some boys are rivers pushing / pebbles for as far as they can // brittle boys unafraid to bruise or break / bourns braided over their fishbone arms // as long as they keep pushing ahead / the pebbles lodged in their mouths // will keep making space for parables / godly shaped, like Amma, Mum, Ma—” Below the poem: “Poetry / Blackbird v24n1.” The image has a white background, dark blue border, and a small blackbird silhouette in the bottom right corner.

Black-and-white portrait of Debmalya Bandyopadhyay sitting indoors with his chin resting on his hand, wearing glasses and a jacket. Behind him, other people sit at tables, and a large painting or mural decorates the wall. The photo is framed by a navy blue border.

Read "Prayer" by Debmalya Bandyopadhyay at the link below. It is moving, heartwrenching, and will stick with you through your day. ❤️

blackbird.vcu.edu/prayer/

Such a quotable poem! 😭

“My body’s held by a mirror between Vega and Venus.
By this room. The parasol moon,
its ten cold ribs bearing the furniture of evening.”

We couldn't be luckier to have you, Megan! ❤️

"In terms of what I do to choose the actual location, I believe emotions impact how we see and experience a place. When I am composing a painting, I try to imagine it anew, more based on how it makes me feel versus what it actually looks like." - Gretchen Scherer

Being back in school has included opportunities to be creative in new ways, like serving as art editor for @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social. So excited for my 1st artist interview (alongside Gwen Hall) is out, featuring the enchanting work of Gretchen Scherer!

blackbird.vcu.edu/the-space-sa...

Graphic featuring an excerpt from a poem by Cameron McGill titled “AFTER YVES TAKES ME HOME FROM THE DOCTOR, I LIE IN THE DARK.” The text reads: “Sleep dissolves like slate tiles on the roof. My fever’s / placed on the table, a vase of tulips, each cut with a handsaw.” Below the text: “Poetry / Blackbird v24n1.” A small blackbird silhouette perches in the bottom right corner against a white background with a navy blue border.

Black-and-white portrait of Cameron McGill, wearing glasses, a flannel shirt, and a patterned bandana around his neck. He looks directly at the camera with a neutral expression. The photo is framed by a navy blue border.

Check out "AFTER YVES TAKES ME HOME FROM THE DOCTOR, I LIE IN THE DARK" by Cameron McGill, a dreamy yet attentive poem from our brand new Flight! It's a stunner.✨

blackbird.vcu.edu/after-yves-t...

*literally screaming at all of you* LOOK AT THE ART!!!!!! ❤️

Blackbird 24.1 cover Cover image for Blackbird issue 24.1. The upper section reads “Blackbird 24.1” in large black text with a bird silhouette. Below is the painting "Trubetskoy Palace, Dining Room, 1914" by Gretchen Scherer — an imagined palace dining room with ornate ceilings, chandeliers, a long table set with dishes, and walls covered in framed paintings.

Poetry contributors Header text “Poetry” above a painting titled "Sir John Soane’s Museum, Library and Dining Room" by Gretchen Scherer. The painting depicts an ornate red-walled study filled with bookshelves, framed artwork, sculptures, and open books on a central desk. Below, names of contributors appear: AJ White, Corey Zeller, Brian Komei Dempster, Dennis Hinrichsen, Cameron McGill, Ian Cappelli, Julia Levine, Chelsea B. DesAutels, and Debmalya Bandyopadhyay.

Nonfiction Header text “Nonfiction” above Gretchen Scherer’s painting "Palace of Aranjuez, Porcelain Room," showing a white and gold ornate room with framed portraits, vine motifs, and decorative porcelain detailing. Contributors listed: Brenna Womer and Kasumi Parker.

Fiction Header text “Fiction” above Gretchen Scherer’s painting "Sanssouci Palace, Library and Picture Gallery," which features open double doors leading into an opulent room lined with gold-framed paintings. Text below lists: Ena Selimović translates Zlatan Nezirović.

New Flight alert! We are beyond thrilled to announce Flight 24.1. Swipe to see some of the wonderful authors published in this issue, and peruse pieces from Gretchen Scherer, our featured artist! Check it out now: blackbird.vcu.edu 🤩

S.A. Cosby sits at the front of a classroom speaking to a group of Blackbird editors and interns. A white board is visible behind him.

S.A. Cosby sits at the front of a classroom and gestures expressively while addressing the audience of Blackbird editors and interns, who are seated and listening attentively. A projector screen and classroom setup are visible in the background.

A closer look at S.A. Cosby speaking to Blackbird editors and interns. The faces of the engaged students are visible.

"Writing is the way that a civilization sees itself." - S.A. Cosby.

Thank you to S.A. Cosby for coming to speak with our editors and interns this past Wednesday. His latest book, King of Ashes, is out now! ☺️

A minimalist square graphic bordered in olive green featuring the title Metamorphosis by Henry Hart. The poem reads: “A cool breeze lifts mist like grief from the lake. / The moon cobbles a path over waves to the other shore / where campers sing Dylan songs by a fire. // The voice that poisoned the air all day / like smoke from the paper mill / fades into pines beneath Fishkill Mountain.” The bottom text reads “Poetry / Blackbird v23n4” beside a small blackbird silhouette.

A black-and-white portrait of Henry Hart framed in olive green. He faces the camera with a slight smile, wearing a collared shirt and a dark tie patterned with small crests, against a plain dark background.

Read "Metamorphosis" by Henry Hart in full at the link below. Check out the full flight, too! ☺️

blackbird.vcu.edu/metamorphosi...

A white square bordered in maroon featuring a poem excerpt. The title reads The Stages of Ukrainian Futurism by Oksana Maksymchuk. The excerpt reads: "In midsummer, his mother / in a sundress and a pair of Birkenstocks / like a girl caught off guard by a cruel remark / stands without crying at his closed casket." At the bottom: Poetry / Blackbird v23n4 with a blackbird silhouette logo.

A black-and-white portrait of Oksana Maksymchuk, who has straight dark hair with bangs, a slight smile, and is wearing a top with a beaded collar. Trees and leaves blur in the background. The photo is framed with a maroon border.

Read "The Stages of Ukranian Futurism" by Oksana Maksymchuk in our latest Flight 23.4. Link in bio! ✨

A yellow-to-green gradient graphic announcing: “Poetry Submissions CLOSE TONIGHT at 11:59pm.” A small black bird silhouette appears in the top left corner, and beneath the main text, the link “blackbird.submittable.com/submit” is shown. At the bottom, the Blackbird logo features another black bird perched beside the journal’s name and tagline: “an online journal of literature and the arts.”

Poetry submissions will close at 11:59pm TONIGHT! Get your poems in before then! All other genres will remain open. Link in bio to submit! ✍️

blackbird.submittable.com/submit

A gradient graphic in shades of orange and red announces: “Poetry Submissions, 4 MORE DAYS TO SUBMIT.” Below, text reads “blackbird.submittable.com/submit.” At the bottom is the Blackbird logo, featuring a small white bird silhouette beside the journal’s name and tagline: “an online journal of literature and the arts.”

Poetry submissions will close at 11:59pm on Thursday, October 16th. Get your poems in before then! All other genres will remain open. FOUR MORE DAYS! ✍️

blackbird.submittable.com/submit

A bold blue graphic announcing the closing date for poetry submissions to Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts. White text reads: “Poetry Submissions CLOSING 10/16.” Below the text are small clock icons and the URL “blackbird.submittable.com/submit.” At the bottom, the Blackbird logo appears in white, with a small bird silhouette perched beside the wordmark.

We have reached our cap for poetry submissions and will close them in ONE WEEK! Poetry submissions will close at 11:59pm on Thursday, October 16th. Get your poems in before then! All other genres will remain open.

blackbird.submittable.com/submit

Wondering what we're looking for in our video essay submissions? M Freeman's "Like the Air" is a remarkable example! Watch the heart-wrenching video from Flight 23.3 now! 🎥 blackbird.vcu.edu/like-the-air//

A graphic with a maroon border features a poem excerpt titled "Half an O of light" by Shira Dentz. The excerpt reads: “among heavy dusk clouds, / pearl with rainbow luster // If energy can’t be created or / destroyed there’s no stillness.” The footer notes: Poetry / Blackbird v23n4 with a small blackbird logo.

A black-and-white portrait of poet Shira Dentz, smiling outdoors with trees softly blurred in the background. She has long, curly light hair, glasses, and is wearing a dark top. A maroon border frames the image.

Read "Half an O of light" by Shira Dentz in our latest Flight 23.4. Link in bio! 🐦‍⬛

Weijia Pan stands at a podium reading from his book Motherlands at VCU’s Levis Reading Prize Night. Behind him, a large screen displays: “VCU College of Humanities and Sciences, VCU Libraries. Motherlands, poems, Weijia Pan. Levis Reading Prize Night,” alongside his portrait and the book's cover art.

The cover of Motherlands by Weijia Pan. The artwork depicts a surreal mountainscape built from clustered buildings and electrical towers, shrouded in mist and fog. In the foreground, bare trees rise above rushing water while a flock of birds arcs through the sky.

A cream-colored broadside featuring an ink illustration of a bird’s nest with two eggs resting on branches and leaves. Below, a poem excerpt reads: “The sparrows arrive with fresh worms / and twigs. The tangerine I nurture in my hands / will never hatch a bird. A bird / is a bird’s masterpiece.” —Weijia Pan from Motherlands

Greg Donovan stands at a podium introducing Weijia Pan at VCU’s Levis Reading Prize Night. In the foreground, an audience member holds a broadside printed with green ginkgo leaves and Weijia Pan’s poem "Ultimatum." The poem's content reads: “If I forget one character a day, / I will have forgotten Chinese / by the end of 2042. // Sooner or later I will forget / my quarrel with my father, / I will forget if / I ever wrote to you. // And the new language / I will have acquired / will not be the same / as the one that bit me.”

A huge thank you to Weijia Pan for coming to accept his Levis Prize and give a reading from his prize-winning collection, Motherlands, published by Milkweed Editions. Swipe to see the beautiful broadsides made by our very own Kathleen Graber. This collection is one worth reading: cover to cover! 📖

A graphic announcing Blackbird’s “Call for Submissions: Video Essays & Sound-Based Literature.” Against a turquoise background, an orange vintage television shows the Blackbird logo while another TV sits beside it. A small illustrated figure leans toward a giant ear perched on the second TV.

A turquoise graphic with black text that reads, “The video essays we admire most employ language, image, and sound with equal craftsmanship and collective vision.” Above the text are two small image icons, and below are two illustrated ear icons with sound waves.

A turquoise graphic with black text that reads, “Sound-based literature is an original piece of writing that pairs a recorded voiceover with a musical composition or sound design score.” Above the text is a megaphone icon, and below is an open book icon.

A turquoise graphic with black text that reads, “Read more here: https://blackbird.submittable.com/submit Or click ‘Submit to Blackbird’ at the link in our bio!” Centered above and below the text are illustrations of books and the Blackbird logo.

We have officially opened our submissions for video essays and sound-based literature! Click "Submit to Blackbird" in our bio to read the full guidelines. We want your work!

Quote slide on an orange background. The text reads: “It excites me to read creative nonfiction pieces that directly and indirectly confront their genre and veracity, essays that question the nature of ‘truth’ and the way it appears on the page.” To the right, a small illustration of a person in green pants holding an oversized pencil.

Quote slide with text: “I want to read essays that wrestle with their containers. I want to read lyric essays, braided essays, hermit crab essays, essays with forms I couldn’t imagine before reading them.” Below is an illustration of a person in glasses sitting on the floor surrounded by books, reading.

Quote slide with text: “I’m eager to dig into an essay where the narrator converses with dead movie stars or their neighbor’s cat.” On the left is an illustration of a large blue hand holding a pencil; on the right, a small black cat peeking out of an orange box.

Quote slide with text: “I want to read an essay that does all of these as it nurtures a strong emotional core. In short, I am looking for essays that put the ‘creative’ in creative nonfiction.” At the top is a small illustration of hands writing on a paper surrounded by stationery. A small Blackbird logo is at the bottom.

We want your creative nonfiction! You can find the link to submit in our bio. Swipe through these photos to read the kind of work we’re looking for, straight from Jesse Lacy, our Lead Nonfiction Editor!

We really shouldn't be surprised by her success anymore... but her poems still strike SUCH a chord. Always!

Diane Seuss working her genius in Blackbird:

TOO. GOOD. !!!

"She peeks into my eyes long enough to say we did not do this to ourselves." 🔥

Quote graphic with a teal border featuring text from Angela Townsend’s nonfiction piece, "I Talked to My Cousin" in Blackbird v23n4. The excerpt reads: “I am not the black sheep of this family, although I like to think I am. I am the accidental blueberry in their red velvet cake. They cancel out my vote fivefold. I have a tattoo. But let’s be real. My tattoo is two cats hugging.” The bottom text reads: Nonfiction / Blackbird v23n4 with a small blackbird silhouette.

Black-and-white portrait of Angela Townsend smiling, framed in teal. She has shoulder-length dark hair with bangs, wears butterfly earrings, and a polka-dotted top.

Read "I Talked to My Cousin" by Angela Townsend in our latest Flight 23.4. Link in bio and below! 😊

blackbird.vcu.edu/i-talked-to-...

We have joined the conversation! Happy to be here 😊

What’s better than @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social on BlueSky? A Diane Seuss poem to start them off.

We are so happy to have you on the team, Megan! 💘

Yay! I mentioned earlier that I am working on @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social this year & now they're on Bluesky! Follow for literary/artistic goodness.

A white graphic bordered in turquoise featuring an excerpt from The Light by Jacob Griffin Hall. The poem reads: “Like the suggestion of fire / I see the city’s lights now stretched / ahead of me I’ve always / imagined the apocalypse would come / with a hell of a view.” At the bottom, text notes: Poetry / Blackbird Flight 23.4, with a small blackbird silhouette.

A black-and-white portrait of Jacob Griffin Hall wearing glasses and a dark button-up shirt, standing against a brick wall with one arm leaning casually. He looks toward the camera with a neutral expression. Blurred trees fill the background.

Read "The Light" by Jacob Griffin Hall in our latest Flight 23.4. 🤩 @jacobgriffinhall.bsky.social

blackbird.vcu.edu/the-light/