Poem by Jennifer MacBain-Stephens

Please categorize all of the times
you thought of me

now Sudoku it
draw a large square with

smaller squares inside of it

objectify me to the tiniest detail
in each square

mention a body part
an eye glimmer

leave some space for the meta
material the best parts

the things we cannot touch
a crinkle, a softness strain

a salve, the strength of my grip
the height of my leg on a pedal

all detailed internet links
traveling electric

at 2 am. in return I’ll open
you like a new genus species

support derailed brain projects
bury darkness and hold it tight

include extra ingredients
dish out for eternity

Jennifer MacBain-Stephens lives in the Midwest and is the author of four full-length poetry collections: Your Best Asset is a White Lace Dress (Yellow Chair Press, 2016); The Messenger is Already Dead (Stalking Horse Press, 2017); We’re Going to Need a Higher Fence tied for first place in the 2017 Lit Fest Book Competition; and The Vitamix and the Murder of Crows is recently out from Apocalypse Party. Her work has been nominated for Best of the Net and the Pushcart Prize. She is also the author of ten chapbooks. Recent work can be seen at or is forthcoming from The Pinch, Black Lawrence Press, Quiddity, Prelude, Cleaver, Yalobusha Review, decomp, and Inter/rupture. Visit: http://jennifermacbainstephens.wordpress.com/