Memorable Stuff I Read This Week

A word for fear
of chatbots? Scriptechxia. For
the breed of ennui that tempts
poets to query them

for language?

— Jen DeGregorio / “No Isms Except Neologism”

The planet Earth can’t afford it.

— John Brunner / The Sheep Look Up

my spirit is
a defeated
suicide
disproportion
in this arranged
and animal world

— Katie Ebbitt / “XV” / Fecund

There was violence in the air. It was on the subways, or so everyone kept claiming, but it was also inside Brooke, inside everyone, like microplastics. This was how the world was now and Brooke didnt even fear the dog’s intercession — a nip, a bark, a bite — her mind a hot void.

— Rumaan Alam / Entitlement

Yesterday the
air was squeaky clean today
it’s dull and lifeless as an
addict’s armpit.

— James Schuyler / “The Dog Wants His Dinner”

A fresh analysis of ocean acidification suggests that it has already crossed over a ‘planetary boundary’ — an influential concept that defines the limits of what Earth can support before human activities make it uninhabitable. In fact, pH levels might have already started crossing safe limits in much of the ocean five years ago, say researchers. Increasing acidity reduces the ocean’s ability to absorb carbon from the atmosphere, weakens coral reefs and harms sea life. The situation is “a ticking timebomb for marine ecosystems and coastal economies,” says marine ecologist Steve Widdicombe, who is the director of science at the lab that did the research.

— Flora Graham / “Sea acidity is a ‘ticking timebomb’” / Nature

I text my yoga teacher: I think I need
to start medication. I meant

meditation, but the subconscious
knows best. I once wrote a whole poem

about the angel of penetration
rather than admit in my haste

I meant angle of penetration.
Either way, a virgin ascends.

—Deborah Hauser / “Never Admit Your Mistakes”

What I’m Listening To:

No hope for joy
No hope or faith
She wanted to go blind
Wanted hope to stay
I’ve been believing in nothing since I was born it never was a question
No!

— PJ Harvey / “Joy”