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Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts

@blackbirdjournal.bsky.social
237 followers 168 following 110 posts

An online journal of literature and the arts led by grad students at VCU. We publish poetry, fiction, nonfiction, art, & more. Submissions are open! linktr.ee/blackbirdjournal

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Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social · 5h
#LitMagWeek seems like a good time to get back to regular Bluesky posting! (Thanks for your patience as I, new media editor Megan, got my bearings.) Here's recommendations from our editors. Who would you add?
Blue graphic with a dark blue square outlined in center. In the square, it reads "Happy #LitMagWeek! We've loved seeing all the lit mag love on social media this week. Here are some of our editors' favorite journals." Journals are then listed below, in white text and at various angles: Split Lip, Ecotone, Image Journal, BRUISER, Brevity, Wigleaf, and Orion Magazine. At the bottom, outside of the dark blue square, the name "Blackbird" in white along with the Blackbird logo, a silhouette of a bird standing on the letter "r."
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Megan McDermott (she/her) @megmcdermott92.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Looking through the @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social archives to prep for my first day w/ my art interns tomorrow 🥳 and what a poem this is!!! "Do you untie me in the end?" blackbird-archive.vcu.edu/v4n2/poetry/...
blackbird-archive.vcu.edu
Safe From Trains, Ada Limón
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Short Story Shoutout @short-story-shout.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Get to know a Shoutout Author: 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐤 You read her riveting short story “The Four Winds” in 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 with us back in March, now read the writer. You want answers? We’ve got questions, none of them frequently asked. @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social #booksky #litfic #shortstory
freilly2020.substack.com
Shoutout Q&A with Grace Spulak
Author of “The Four Winds” in Blackbird Journal
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Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social · 5h
Thanks for the shout out!
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Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
It’s here! Blackbird Literary Podcast’s third episode has arrived, and it’s stunning. Listen to “Ascent, Accent” at blackbird.vcu.edu/podcast or wherever you get your podcasts. Credits included here 🎧
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Connor Douglas Rice @connordrice.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Heard this captivating, incredibly well-crafted poem by @jessicapoli.bsky.social in the @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social podcast and I can already tell I will never forget it. "The Duchess of Lightning Drowns" Diving Horse Show, Ocean Park, California, 1927 blackbird.vcu.edu/the-duchess-... #poetry
blackbird.vcu.edu
The Duchess of Lightning Drowns
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Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
(1/2) Surprise! Flight 24n4 is OUT. It's our very first Flight containing only video essays, sound art, and visual art. Look, listen, and open your heart to the beauty of these forms. We're so excited for this one! 🐦‍⬛ blackbird.vcu.edu
Brown promotional graphic announcing Blackbird's Flight 24n4 is out now, featuring a photograph titled Jared II by David Evan McDowell showing mirrors on a wall reflecting a blurred figure.Brown graphic with a quote from the Flight 24.4 foreword stating that the issue is Blackbird's first flight devoted entirely to video essays, sound works, and visual art, with the Blackbird logo at the bottom.Brown graphic featuring a framed vintage poster reading "When Nations Collide" by David Evan McDowell.Brown graphic with a quote from the Flight 24.4 foreword about artists exploring what survives transmission through inheritance, remixing, obscuring, distortion, and recovery.
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Autumn House Press @autumnhouse.org · 15/05/2026
"You know, I think it’s kind of write what you know." Another thoughtful interview with Grace Spulak, author of Magdalena Is Brighter Than You Think. Thanks to Sam Schieren at @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social!
screenshot from interview
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Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
Blackbird is pausing our social media posting for the summer. We'll periodically check in and continue to share any big news we have, but you'll be seeing a little less of us than usual over the next few months. Readings, news, writing, and more to come your way in the fall. Bye for now! 👋
A red promotional graphic with a subtle diagonal stripe texture features a red sign at the top that reads “Sorry We’re CLOSED,” with “Sorry” in a script font and “We’re CLOSED” in bold block letters. Below, large white text reads “Keep reading over the summer:” followed by “blackbird.vcu.edu.” At the bottom, the Blackbird logo appears in white.
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Megan McDermott (she/her) @megmcdermott92.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
So many great opportunities to submit to @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social below ⬇️ I will continue to be our Art Editor through the upcoming school year & would love to see your visual art!!! (Or pass along to an artist friend you know who might not have lit mags on their radar)
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Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
Yes, we had to close our submissions for poetry and fiction for the summer—but fear not! Our submissions are still open for the following categories: creative nonfiction, art, video essays, sound-based literature, book reviews, interviews, and craft essays. Link in bio! Spread the word. 🐦‍⬛
A graphic on a lilac background decorated with paint strokes. The text reads: "Open Submissions: Creative Nonfiction," with the link to submit below: "blackbird.submittable.com/submit." The Blackbird logo appears at the bottom.A graphic on a lilac background decorated with paint strokes. The text reads: "Open Submissions: Art," with the link to submit below: "blackbird.submittable.com/submit." The Blackbird logo appears at the bottom.A graphic on a lilac background decorated with paint strokes. The text reads: "Open Submissions: Video Essays & Sound-Based Literature," with the URL to submit below: "blackbird.submittable.com/submit." The Blackbird logo appears at the bottom.A graphic on a lilac background decorated with paint strokes. The text reads: "Open Submissions: Reviews, Interviews, Craft Essays," with the URL to submit below: "blackbird.submittable.com/submit." The Blackbird logo appears at the bottom.
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Megan McDermott (she/her) @megmcdermott92.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
Another new issue of @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social & another art review from me! 💖 "What did the brushstrokes, shapes, and colors mean to the women behind them who painted these works between the years 1936 and 1977?" blackbird.vcu.edu/review-abstr...
blackbird.vcu.edu
Review: Abstract Expressionists: The Women
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Abbie Kiefer @abbiekiefer.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
Glad to have the chance to review Bobby Elliott’s THE SAME MAN (@upittpress.bsky.social) in the new issue of @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social blackbird.vcu.edu/review-bobby...
blackbird.vcu.edu
Review: Bobby Elliott’s The Same Man 
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Noemi Press @noemipress.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
"Recipe for Bilo-Bilo" by @asaldrake.bsky.social from Beauty Talk, forthcoming from Noemi Press in October 2026, published in @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social Read it here: blackbird.vcu.edu/recipe-for-b...
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Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
Huge news: Flight 24n3 is out now! Swipe through to see the remarkable names featured in this Flight and read it in all its glory at blackbird.vcu.edu. Spread the word! 🐦‍⬛
A blue graphic with an abstract, watery pattern background features a black bird silhouette at the top. Centered text reads, “Blackbird’s Flight 24n3 IS OUT NOW!” in mixed serif and bold fonts. Below, a grid of many small portrait images is displayed; each portrait is partially obscured by colorful patterned overlays covering the subjects’ faces. At the bottom, smaller text reads: “Cover Art: ‘The Archive is Soft’ by Kat Thompson.”A blue abstract background with a black bird icon at the top and bold text reading “From the Foreword:”. Below is a centered quote: "Across genres, there is a persistent awareness of the gap between experience and its articulation. To describe is to risk diminishing; to refine is to risk erasure. And yet, these pieces return to the attempt, again and again, to inhabit that gap."A blue abstract background with a black bird icon and the heading “Featuring Poetry by.” On the right, a list of names appears in bold: Amber Adams; Sara Potocsny; Malcolm Dean Mitchell; Marina Tsvetaeva (transl. by Kenedee Westberry); nicole v basta; Kate Sweeney; Asa Drake. On the left is an image of an art installation: a wall covered in photographs and ephemera with a large hanging textile featuring a black-and-white image. At the bottom, text reads: “Close-up of The Weight of Paradise by Kat Thompson.”A blue abstract background with a black bird icon and the heading “Featuring Fiction by.” Below, bold text reads: “Luc Le & Ashleigh Bryant Phillips.” Beneath is a horizontal photograph of small framed slide images hanging from hooks against a blue-and-white wall. Caption text reads: “Close-up of Souvenir of Access: Denied, Restricted, For Sale, Withheld, Limited by Kat Thompson.”
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Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
Our poetry and fiction submissions close tomorrow at 11:59pm (EST). CNF writers... don't fear! We are keeping our CNF (and art, video essays, sound-based literature, etc.) submissions open until our queue gets too full to reasonably manage. Keep your eyes on our socials for the latest info. ☀️
A green promotional graphic with a textured, brushstroke-style background reads “Poetry and Fiction Submissions CLOSE MAY 1ST.” Beneath that, smaller white text reads “blackbird.submittable.com/submit.” At the bottom, the Blackbird logo appears in white.
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Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
ANNOUNCEMENT: Our poetry and fiction submissions are set to close on Friday, May 1st, at 11:59pm EST. We plan to reopen submissions when our staff returns in the fall, but keep an eye on our socials to get the latest info. Spread the word!
A green promotional graphic with a textured, brushstroke-style background reads “Poetry and Fiction Submissions CLOSE MAY 1ST.” Beneath that, smaller white text reads “blackbird.submittable.com/submit.” At the bottom, the Blackbird logo appears in white.
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Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
Reminder: this Sunday, April 26th, is our Sound & Literature event! Come hang out from 6pm to 9pm with us at Gallery5. Gonna be a blast!
A black-and-white promotional flyer for a “SOUND & LITERATURE SHOWCASE” features a bold, high-contrast layout with a butterfly-and-sun graphic at center. At the top left, white text on a black triangle reads, “Join us for an evening of engaged and active listening!” A bulleted list on the left reads: “MATX Sound Study Seminar short-form podcast showcase with Q&A; Blackbird Literary Podcast live literary readings with musical scores; A special reading from Danny Eisenberg, winner of the Rebecca Mitchell Tarumoto Short Fiction Prize, accompanied by Kodi Crone.” On the lower left, additional text reads, “Celebrate the release of Blackbird Literary Podcast Episode 3!” On the right side, large text reads “SOUND & LITERATURE SHOWCASE,” followed by “Sunday, April 26th at Gallery 5,” the address “200 W Marshall St, Richmond, VA 23220,” and the time “6 PM – 9 PM (including happy hours and intermissions).” At the bottom, text reads “PRESENTED BY: Blackbird, an online journal of literature and the arts,” alongside the MATX logo.A black-and-white event flyer with a diagonal split design promotes a “SOUND & LITERATURE SHOWCASE.” At the top right, large white text reads “SOUND & LITERATURE SHOWCASE.” Below, smaller text reads “Sunday, April 26th at Gallery 5,” followed by the address “200 W Marshall St, Richmond, VA 23220” and the time “6 PM – 9 PM.” The left side contains a detailed description: “Join us for an evening of sound-based work produced by VCU students and Richmond community members. First, listen to short-form podcasts produced by students in Dr. Lingold’s Sound Studies seminar. Students will talk about their work before the group listens. Following each piece, the audience will engage in Q&A. The second part of the event will feature live performances from interns and volunteers from the Blackbird Literary Podcast team. Students from Kinetic Imaging and Media Scoring, along with local musicians, will perform live compositions paired with literary readings published in the journal, voiced by MFA students and community members. We will also feature a scored reading from Danny Eisenberg, winner of the 2025–2026 Rebecca Mitchell Tarumoto Short Fiction Prize, accompanied by Kodi Crone (KI Graduate Student, Miri Sluis). The event showcases the multimodal work happening at VCU and will emphasize community participation and engagement throughout the event. This isn’t a ‘sit in your seat for three hours’ event, we will celebrate with plenty of social time and intermissions. Please join us for a happy hour before and after the performances!” A stylized graphic of a butterfly overlapping a sun appears near the top. At the bottom, text reads “PRESENTED BY: Blackbird, an online journal of literature and the arts,” alongside the MATX logo.
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Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
"A Summer Day," a poem written by Dmitry Blizniuk and translated by Sergey Gerasimov, is a poem that does not shy away from an image that might frighten us: that of our own reflection. Read this poem and more at blackbird.vcu.edu. Happy National Poetry Month! 💫
White page with a peach border. Title at top reads, “A Summer Day” Beneath the title are the author and translator names, “Dmitry Blizniuk, Sergey Gerasimov (translator)” Below, a quote from the poem: “a young soldier, skinny arms / khaki-colored wax flowers, / blue eyes / through which you can see childhood, school, / the ringing abyss of the unlived / like a reflected world sliding in a trolleybus window.” A horizontal line separates the text from the footer. At the bottom left, italic text reads, “Poetry / Blackbird v24n2.” At the bottom right is a small blackbird icon.Black-and-white portrait photograph of the original author, Anzhelina Polonskaya, indoors. The image is framed by a peach border.
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Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
Sara Caskey, our associate creative nonfiction editor, introduced some of CAConrad's somatic poetry prompts with our interns last week. She encouraged them to write their own. Here is one that deeply moved us. Write a poem or prompt in response to this. Reply to this with what you come up with! 📝
A torn sheet of lined notebook paper lies on a wooden surface, with ragged spiral edges on the left side. At the top, a small star is drawn next to the handwritten note “[2-sided].” The handwritten text reads: “Call your mother. If you don’t have a mother, or if you don’t have the type of mother you can call, get on the phone with the kindest person you know. Be sure you aren’t mixing up the kindest person you know with the nicest person you know. Hold something round and delicate in your hands, like an egg or peach—something with something at the center. Talk to your mother or kind person about the weather. But don’t think of the weather: think of mothering. Could you be a mother? What does mother mean? Do you want to be one?”A torn sheet of lined notebook paper lies on a wooden surface, with ragged spiral edges on the right side. In black handwriting, the note continues: “Once your conversation partner notices your attention is elsewhere, politely end the call. Kiss the round object in your hand, then throw it on the ground. Write about this loss and all the other things you’ve lost throughout your brief, embarrassing life.”
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Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Announcing our 2025 Tarumoto Winner: "Also the Therapist is a Dog" by Danny Eisenberg! 🥇 It employs a captivating voice, a narrative that estranges us from reality, and a hilarity that never ceases its charm. Congrats, Danny!
A light gray promotional graphic with faint concentric circular patterns and scattered small blue star icons reads, “Announcing the Winner of the 2025 TARUMOTO PRIZE in Fiction:” followed by the title “Also, the Therapist is a Dog” in large bold text and “by Danny Eisenberg” in italicized text beneath it. At the bottom, the Blackbird logo appears with a small bird silhouette and the text “Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts.”A light gray graphic with faint concentric circular patterns reads, “A Quote from ‘Also, the Therapist is a Dog’” with small paw print icons flanking the title. Below, a block quote reads: “Imagine, if you can, a hive of honeybees. Try to tally them—is there a number of bees, or no number of bees? Would knowing the exact number of bees in the hive change how you taste the honey? Does your answer change if the bees know that they’re being counted? I mean in the actuarial sense; what is the risk of accounting? Is the risk of being stung greater than the risk of getting the wrong answer?” The quote is attributed at the bottom to “– Danny Eisenberg.”A black-and-white promotional flyer for a “SOUND & LITERATURE SHOWCASE” features a bold, high-contrast layout with a butterfly-and-sun graphic at center. At the top left, white text on a black triangle reads, “Join us for an evening of engaged and active listening!” A bulleted list on the left reads: “MATX Sound Study Seminar short-form podcast showcase with Q&A; Blackbird Literary Podcast live literary readings with musical scores; A special reading from Danny Eisenberg, winner of the Rebecca Mitchell Tarumoto Short Fiction Prize, accompanied by Kodi Crone.” On the lower left, additional text reads, “Celebrate the release of Blackbird Literary Podcast Episode 3!” On the right side, large text reads “SOUND & LITERATURE SHOWCASE,” followed by “Sunday, April 26th at Gallery 5,” the address “200 W Marshall St, Richmond, VA 23220,” and the time “6 PM – 9 PM (including happy hours and intermissions).” At the bottom, text reads “PRESENTED BY: Blackbird, an online journal of literature and the arts,” alongside the MATX logo.A black-and-white event flyer with a diagonal split design promotes a “SOUND & LITERATURE SHOWCASE.” At the top right, large white text reads “SOUND & LITERATURE SHOWCASE.” Below, smaller text reads “Sunday, April 26th at Gallery 5,” followed by the address “200 W Marshall St, Richmond, VA 23220” and the time “6 PM – 9 PM.” The left side contains a detailed description: “Join us for an evening of sound-based work produced by VCU students and Richmond community members. First, listen to short-form podcasts produced by students in Dr. Lingold’s Sound Studies seminar. Students will talk about their work before the group listens. Following each piece, the audience will engage in Q&A. The second part of the event will feature live performances from interns and volunteers from the Blackbird Literary Podcast team. Students from Kinetic Imaging and Media Scoring, along with local musicians, will perform live compositions paired with literary readings published in the journal, voiced by MFA students and community members. We will also feature a scored reading from Danny Eisenberg, winner of the 2025–2026 Rebecca Mitchell Tarumoto Short Fiction Prize, accompanied by Kodi Crone (KI Graduate Student, Miri Sluis). The event showcases the multimodal work happening at VCU and will emphasize community participation and engagement throughout the event. This isn’t a ‘sit in your seat for three hours’ event, we will celebrate with plenty of social time and intermissions. Please join us for a happy hour before and after the performances!” A stylized graphic of a butterfly overlapping a sun appears near the top. At the bottom, text reads “PRESENTED BY: Blackbird, an online journal of literature and the arts,” alongside the MATX logo.
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Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
Anzhelina Polonskaya's ". . ." is translated by Andrew Wachtel in our most recent Flight, and it does what our greatest poems should do; it acknowledges the failure of words. Read this poem and more at blackbird.vcu.edu. Happy National Poetry Month! 🐦‍⬛
White page with a mustard yellow border. Title at top reads, “. . .” Beneath the title are the author and translator names, “Anzhelina Polonskaya, Andrew Wachtel (translator).” Below, a quote from the poem: “And if the poppies grow with blood – / it cannot be prayed away. There are no other religions.” A horizontal line separates the text from the footer. At the bottom left, italic text reads, “Poetry / Blackbird v24n2.” At the bottom right is a small blackbird icon.Black-and-white portrait photograph of the original author, Anzhelina Polonskaya, indoors. The image is framed by a mustard yellow border.
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Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
ANNOUNCEMENT: Join us on Sunday, April 26th, at Gallery5 in Richmond, VA for our Sound & Literature Showcase. Swipe to read more about the event, and be sure to put this one on your calendar! 🎧
A black-and-white promotional flyer for a “SOUND & LITERATURE SHOWCASE” features a bold, high-contrast layout with a butterfly-and-sun graphic at center. At the top left, white text on a black triangle reads, “Join us for an evening of engaged and active listening!” A bulleted list on the left reads: “MATX Sound Study Seminar short-form podcast showcase with Q&A; Blackbird Literary Podcast live literary readings with musical scores; A special reading from 'To Be Announced!' winner of the Rebecca Mitchell Tarumoto Short Fiction Prize, accompanied by Kodi Crone.” On the lower left, additional text reads, “Celebrate the release of Blackbird Literary Podcast Episode 3!” On the right side, large text reads “SOUND & LITERATURE SHOWCASE,” followed by “Sunday, April 26th at Gallery 5,” the address “200 W Marshall St, Richmond, VA 23220,” and the time “6 PM – 9 PM (including happy hours and intermissions).” At the bottom, text reads “PRESENTED BY: Blackbird, an online journal of literature and the arts,” alongside the MATX logo.A black-and-white event flyer with a diagonal split design promotes a “SOUND & LITERATURE SHOWCASE.” At the top right, large white text reads “SOUND & LITERATURE SHOWCASE.” Below, smaller text reads “Sunday, April 26th at Gallery 5,” followed by the address “200 W Marshall St, Richmond, VA 23220” and the time “6 PM – 9 PM.” The left side contains a detailed description: “Join us for an evening of sound-based work produced by VCU students and Richmond community members. First, listen to short-form podcasts produced by students in Dr. Lingold’s Sound Studies seminar. Students will talk about their work before the group listens. Following each piece, the audience will engage in Q&A. The second part of the event will feature live performances from interns and volunteers from the Blackbird Literary Podcast team. Students from Kinetic Imaging and Media Scoring, along with local musicians, will perform live compositions paired with literary readings published in the journal, voiced by MFA students and community members. We will also feature a scored reading from 'To Be Announced!' winner of the 2025–2026 Rebecca Mitchell Tarumoto Short Fiction Prize, accompanied by Kodi Crone (KI Graduate Student, Miri Sluis). The event showcases the multimodal work happening at VCU and will emphasize community participation and engagement throughout the event. This isn’t a ‘sit in your seat for three hours’ event, we will celebrate with plenty of social time and intermissions. Please join us for a happy hour before and after the performances!” A stylized graphic of a butterfly overlapping a sun appears near the top. At the bottom, text reads “PRESENTED BY: Blackbird, an online journal of literature and the arts,” alongside the MATX logo.
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Short Story Shoutout @short-story-shout.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
Are your short stories dramatic enough? Check out Grace Spulak’s “The Four Winds” in Blackbird Journal for a masterclass in tension. Nearly every scene is like a rubber band stretched to its breaking point. @gspulak.bsky.social @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social freilly2020.substack.com/p/the-four-w...
freilly2020.substack.com
"The Four Winds" / Blackbird Journal of Literature and the Arts
A strange intimacy between care and harm.
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Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
Swipe to see our selections for the 2025 Tarumoto Prize Shortlist! Three brilliant stories. Three brilliant authors. Announcing the winner in just ONE week from today. Check back in then! In the meantime, you can read all three of these stories at blackbird.vcu.edu.
A graphic with a light gray, subtly spiraled background reads “Introducing the Shortlist for the TARUMOTO PRIZE of 2025” in large black text. Below, bold text reads “Swipe to see our top contenders!” with a right-pointing arrow. The Blackbird logo appears at the bottom.A graphic with a light gray, subtly spiraled background reads “2025 TARUMOTO SHORTLIST” in large black text. Below are three shortlisted works: “#3” by Joyce Orobello; “Also, the Therapist is a Dog” by Danny Eisenberg; and “Para Las Latinas” by Vic Alvarez. The Blackbird logo appears at the bottom.A graphic with a light gray, subtly spiraled background reads “Come back to our page on April 15th for the announcement of our winning story!” in black text, with “April 15th” and “winning story!” emphasized in bold. The Blackbird logo appears at the bottom.
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Eleanor Ball @eleanorball.bsky.social · 05/04/2026
Day 5: "You're Supposed to Enjoy Dying" by Colin Pope in @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social. Such a surprising, hopeful, human poem about the anxieties of aging and death. blackbird.vcu.edu/youre-suppos...
blackbird.vcu.edu
You’re Supposed to Enjoy Dying
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Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
To kick off National Poetry Month, here's a moving, tender quote from a poem that protests fear via radical optimism. Thank you, John Nieves, for your work! Read the full poem at blackbird.vcu.edu.
White page with a forest green border. Title at top reads, “Fearr.” Beneath the title is the author name, “John Nieves.” Below, a quote from the poem with varied indentations of the lines: “And we learned to // imagine through it, to make / closeness where we could. / Please, let me stop // imagining for just a little while.” A horizontal line separates the text from the footer. At the bottom left, italic text reads, “Poetry / Blackbird v24n2.” At the bottom right is a small blackbird icon.Black-and-white portrait photograph of John Nieves indoors. The image is framed by a forest green border.
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Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
By simply having your fiction work published in Blackbird, you are eligible for our bi-annual Tarumoto Prize, which awards one talented author $2000 for our fiction editors' favorite piece. Be sure to check back in a week if you've published with us from spring of 2023 to fall of 2025!
A graphic with a light gray, subtly spiraled background reads “Announcing the TARUMOTO PRIZE in Fiction” in large black text. Below, a blue rounded rectangle with an arrow pointing toward it contains the text “Shortlist Announced April 8th!” At the bottom, the Blackbird logo appears with the tagline “an online journal of literature and the arts.”
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Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
Anne von Freyburg, Flight 24n2's featured artist, is an artist who does not shy away from vibrancy, color, or cuteness. Swipe to see a few of her works here as well as a quote from her stunning interview conducted by Megan McDermott, lead art editor for Blackbird. blackbird.vcu.edu. 🎨
A photo of Anne von Freyburg's "Patchwork Girl No. 2," a tapestry collage of the following matericals: tapestry, sequin fabric, metallic fabric, pvc fabric, polyester wadding, hand dyed fringes and hand stitching on woven tapestry, made in 2025. A woman's facial features emerge from the collage surrounded in hot pink fringe.A text-based graphic with a white background. At the top are multi-colored swirls, and the header reads: "From Disarming Cuteness: To Be In Power. An Interview by Megan McDermott." The quote reads: "The difference for me between painting with textiles and paint is that you can’t escape the realness of fabrics. It’s not so much about escapism, like when you stand in front of a painting." It is attributed to Anne von Freyburg, featured artist. A photo of Anne von Freyburg's "Something in the Air has Changed (After Fragonard, the Meeting)," a textile wall installation painting of the following materials: acrylic ink, synthetic fabrics, PVC fabric, tapestry-fabric, sequin fabrics, hand-embroidery, polyester wadding and hand-dyed tassel fringes on canvas, made in 2025. Fabrics in purples, pinks, and blues, with fringe coming down, seem to create clouds above a scene, also crafted in various fabrics, of a woman in a dress.A photo of Anne von Freyburg's "Sun Kissed (After Fragonard, Venus with Doves)," a textile painting of the following materials: acrylic ink, synthetic-fabrics, tapestry-fabric, sequin fabrics, hand-embroidery, polyester wadding and hand-dyed tassel fringes on canvas, made in 2023. Pieces of wavy fabric in multiple colors, including pale colors and bright pinks, come together to form a woman's face. Fringe at bottom of textile painting reflects palette of pinks and soft blues and greens.
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Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
"Slaughter Weight" by Talia Isaacson is a poem from Flight 24.2 that demands our full attention. Read the full poem at blackbird.vcu.edu.
White page with a deep red border. Title at top reads, “Slaughter Weight.” Beneath the title is the author name, “Talia Isaacson.” Below, a quote from the poem reads: “The sky scrubbed itself / clean above us, pale // and silent as a tooth. We finished. Lifted / the crates into the truck. No broken // toes, J said. Always lift, never drag.” A horizontal line separates the text from the footer. At the bottom left, italic text reads, “Poetry / Blackbird v24n2.” At the bottom right is a small blackbird icon.Black-and-white portrait photograph of Talia Isaacson who stands outside against what appears to be a distant mountain landscape. The image is framed by a deep red border.
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Stephen Jackson @fortyoddcrows.bsky.social · 26/03/2026
The journey this poem by @colinpope.bsky.social takes you on before bringing you back.
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Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
Yesterday, VCU's Visiting Writer's Series hosted Melissa Faliveno for a craft talk, Q&A, and reading. Thanks for taking the time to share your work and insights, Melissa! Be sure to keep up with our page to be notified of more literary opportunities like this if you're in the Richmond area. 💫
Melissa Faliveno stands at a podium on a small stage in James Branch Cabell Library, reading for VCU’s Visiting Writers Series. Behind her, a large projection screen displays a slide that reads “VISITING WRITERS SERIES” and “Melissa Faliveno,” alongside a portrait of her.A large projection screen at James Branch Cabell Library displays a slide for VCU’s Visiting Writers Series featuring Melissa Faliveno. The slide includes the text “VISITING WRITERS SERIES” and “Melissa Faliveno,” with a framed portrait of her against a dark background.
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Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
A stunning quote from Colin Pope's "You're Supposed to Enjoy Dying," a poem that contemplates beginnings and endings, births and deaths. Read the full piece at blackbird.vcu.edu!
White page with an aquamarine colored border. Title at top reads, “You're Supposed to Enjoy Dying.” Beneath the title is the author name, “Colin Pope.” Below, a quote from the poem reads: “My grandfather, too, // raged and gnashed against the leash / with which mortal pain had collared him, / requiring sedatives straight to the drip. / I had been taught to fear death // by everybody except the dead.” A horizontal line separates the text from the footer. At the bottom left, italic text reads, “Poetry / Blackbird v24n2.” At the bottom right is a small blackbird icon.Black-and-white close-up portrait photograph of Colin Pope. The image is framed by an aquamarine border.
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Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
(1/2) At AWP, we practiced using poetry as currency. Folks who wanted a Blackbird tote bag had to give us a haiku in exchange! Here are a few of the off the cuff responses we got. Thanks for participating, friends! 🪶
A pink “IMPORTANT MESSAGE” note sits centered on a light speckled countertop. The form is filled out for “Adam Grabowski.” In the message section, a handwritten haiku reads: “As if I’m launching. / As if I’m again anew. / But quieter. And…”A pink “IMPORTANT MESSAGE” note addressed to Blackbird rests on a light speckled countertop. It is signed by “Kasumi Parker,” with the handle “@kasumi.parker.” The message reads: “Blackbirds sing, you said. / Dead of night? No. Dawn of day! / Rejoice dear lit mag!” A heart and a handwritten note below the form reads: “PS. Thanks for publishing me!”A pink “IMPORTANT MESSAGE” note addressed to Blackbird and dated March 6th sits on a light speckled countertop. The name “Brianna Clark” appears in the sender field. In the message section, a handwritten haiku reads: “Jellies float through waves. / Gangly tentacles float free. / Weightless and wondrous.”A pink “IMPORTANT MESSAGE” note addressed to Blackbird sits on a light speckled countertop. The phone line is partially blacked out. In the message section, a handwritten haiku reads: “I look at the sun. / It burns my eye like an egg / and I eat that egg.”
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Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
First quote post from our brand new Flight! Rooted in voice and place, "Don't Touch" by Joel Worford excites us from the first line: "Had a pastor once told me it should hurt a little bit when you praying to Jesus." Read the whole piece and more at blackbird.vcu.edu.
White page with a lilac border. Title at top reads, “Don't Touch.” Beneath the title is the author name, “Joel Worford.” Below, a block of prose reads: “Nobody in the town minded about their being acquainted, until the Lord started minding it. Their love brought the locusts. And the water never did part, not for her nor for her Moses.” A horizontal line separates the text from the footer. At the bottom left, italic text reads, “Fiction / Blackbird v24n2.” At the bottom right is a small blackbird icon.Black-and-white portrait photograph of Joel Worford seated in from of what appears to be a dressing room mirror. The image is framed by a lilac border.
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Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
AWP was a blast-and-a-half! Here's a recap of our Blackbird/BRINK/TriQuarterly off-site event and a photo from the literary podcasting panel with some of our Blackbird folks on deck. Thanks to all who came out to support Blackbird. We couldn't have felt more fulfilled by this trip to Baltimore!
Ira Sukrungruang stands in front of a projection screen that reads “Ira Sukrungruang: LIVE READING,” holding a microphone and reading from a page at a Blackbird off-site event at Old Major in Baltimore. Audience members appear in silhouette in the foreground.A packed audience sits facing the camera inside Old Major, a narrow brick-walled venue with wooden floors and a projector overhead. Many people smile, wave, or make peace signs while seated in rows of folding chairs.A panel at the Baltimore Convention Center for AWP titled Literary Podcasting: A New Sonic Space. From left to right at the table: Trey Burnart Hall, Carvell Wallace, and Dawnie Walton. Jessica Hendry Nelson stands at a podium with an AWP sign while the others sit behind microphones at a long table.At the end of the event at Old Major, a projection screen fills the wall with the repeated phrase “DANCE PARTY” in rows while audience members stand and raise their arms in silhouette in front of the screen.
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Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
Going to AWP this year? Come find us! Swipe through these photos to see the many things Blackbird and VCU are involved with. And stop by our table (booth 959!) to get to know us a bit! We may have some Blackbird swag for you... 🐦‍⬛
Orange slide reading: “We will be at: BOOTH 959 + PANELS TO GO TO.” A cream starburst shape highlights “BOOTH 959.” Below, text reads: “THURSDAY at 10:35am ‘DON’T BOX ME IN: Crossing Genres & Defying Categorization.’” A small black bird icon appears near the bottom.Orange slide reading: “We will be at: BOOTH 959 + PANELS TO GO TO.” Text below reads: “FRIDAY at 10:35am ‘Literary Podcasting: A New Sonic Space.’” A small black bird icon appears near the bottom.Orange slide reading: “We will be at: BOOTH 959 + PANELS TO GO TO.” Text below reads: “SATURDAY at 10:35am ‘I Could Not Stop for Death: Poets on Addiction & Substance Abuse.’” A small black bird icon appears near the bottom.A black-and-white event flyer titled “TRIPTYCH” in large bold letters at the top. Beneath the title, three inverted triangular shapes contain a grayscale photograph of blooming daisies. Centered text reads: “Video, Sound, and Live Readers at OLD MAJOR,” with the OLD MAJOR logo displayed in bold block letters and the address listed as “900 S Carey St, Baltimore, MD 21223.” On the left, text reads: “Featuring works by: Ashley Dailey, Hannah Bonner, Carolina Ebeid, Sarah Minor, Esé Emmanuel, Troels Hierdal.” On the right, text reads: “Readings from: Tramaine Suubi, Ira Sukrungruang, Harrison Hamm, Patrycja Humienik.” A starburst graphic says, “With a DANCE PARTY!” At the bottom, the date and time read: “March 6, 2026, 7 pm - 10 pm.” The footer says “Presented by:” followed by the logos for Blackbird, Brink, and TriQuarterly.
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Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
You read that right: Blackbird's poetry submissions are OPEN! We cannot wait to sit with your words. 📖 blackbird.submittable.com/submit
A graphic with a bright purple background scattered with small black speckles. Centered at the top is the word “POETRY.” Beneath it, the text reads “Submissions Are OPEN NOW!” Below that is the URL: “blackbird.submittable.com/submit.” In the lower half of the image is a stylized black-and-white illustration of two hands typing on a laptop keyboard. On the laptop screen is a newspaper-style layout with columns of text. Yellow lightning bolt shapes extend outward from both sides of the laptop. At the bottom of the image, centered, is the Blackbird logo.
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Megan McDermott (she/her) @megmcdermott92.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
New issue of @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social means new artist interview! Was so excited to feature the work of Anne von Freyburg. It opens w/ a reflection on cuteness and feminine aesthetics, connecting to both the artwork and to my experience as a woman and priest. blackbird.vcu.edu/interview-fo...
blackbird.vcu.edu
Disarming Cuteness: To Be In Power
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Autumn House Press @autumnhouse.org · 27/02/2026
Be sure to check out the full issue too! blackbird.vcu.edu/flight/v24n2/
blackbird.vcu.edu
v24n2
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Autumn House Press @autumnhouse.org · 27/02/2026
Congrats to Grace Spulak for having her stunning story "The Four Winds" in the most recent issue of BLACKBIRD, and big thanks to the BLACKBIRD editors! Read Grace's story here: blackbird.vcu.edu/the-four-win... @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social
Front Cover of Blackbird 24.2Fiction Feature of Blackbird: Joel Worford and Grace Spulak
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Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
(1/2) Surprise! Flight 24.2 is out now! 🐦‍⬛ This Flight features a whole slew of incredibly talented creatives and is a culmination of months of work from our entire staff. Swipe to see what's included, and read the full Flight at blackbird.vcu.edu now!
Teal textured background with a small black bird icon at the top. Large text reads: “Blackbird’s Flight 24.2 IS OUT NOW!” Below is a colorful mixed-media artwork with layered, sculptural forms and cascading threads in pink, green, blue, and coral. Caption reads: Cover Art: “Oops I Made You Lose Your Head (After Fragonard, The Swing)” by Anne von Freyburg.Teal background with heading: “From the Foreword:” followed by an excerpt: “Flight 24.2 begins with what we cannot quite hold: a hand slipping from another in cold water, a cage unlatched at dawn, a door splintered by what forces its way through. These pieces dwell in the aftermath of belief and the brink of its unraveling.”Teal background with heading: “Featuring Poetry by” followed by: John Nieves, Colin Pope, Jorrell Watkins, Zach Simon, Dmitry Blizniuk, Anzhelina Polonskaya, and Talia Isaacson. Beside the text is a tall, colorful textile artwork with layered, organic forms and long vertical threads in blues, purples, and pinks. Caption reads: “Spellbound (After Fragonard, The Progress of Love: Love letters)” by Anne von Freyburg.Teal background with heading: “Featuring Fiction by” followed by: Joel Worford & Grace Spulak. Below is a vibrant, vertical textile artwork composed of multicolored thread columns with clustered sculptural forms. Caption reads: “Floral Arrangement 1 (After Jan van Huysum, Still-life)” by Anne von Freyburg.
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Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
Not only can you come visit us at our Blackbird table at AWP, but save the date for our off-site event! With BRINK and TriQuarterly, we are hosting a video, sound, and literature event on Friday, March 6th at Old Major in Baltimore. You won't want to miss it (or the dance party to follow 💃)!
A black-and-white event flyer titled “TRIPTYCH” in large bold letters at the top. Beneath the title, three inverted triangular shapes contain a grayscale photograph of blooming daisies. Centered text reads: “Video, Sound, and Live Readers at OLD MAJOR,” with the OLD MAJOR logo displayed in bold block letters and the address listed as “900 S Carey St, Baltimore, MD 21223.” On the left, text reads: “Featuring works by: Ashley Dailey, Hannah Bonner, Carolina Ebeid, Sarah Minor, Esé Emmanuel, Troels Hierdal.” On the right, text reads: “Readings from: Tramaine Suubi, Ira Sukrungruang, Harrison Hamm, Patrycja Humienik.” A starburst graphic says, “With a DANCE PARTY!” At the bottom, the date and time read: “March 6, 2026, 7 pm - 10 pm.” The footer says “Presented by:” followed by the logos for Blackbird, Brink, and TriQuarterly.
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Rozalija Grace · Розалия Грейс @rozalijagrace.com · 25/02/2026
I love a good ghazal, and I especially love an innovative use of the form, and this, in @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social, is *fabulous*:
blackbird.vcu.edu
Poética Histórica: Or, How to Leave My Country a Voicemail
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Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
VCU MFA Alumni AJ White and Lea Marshall took the VCU Libraries stage this past Thursday to read their work for our community. What a gift to host them! You can read some poems and an essay from AJ White in Blackbird's most recent Flight at blackbird.vcu.edu.
A large screen at VCU’s Cabell Library displays a black slide reading “Lea Marshall” and “AJ White” alongside bold yellow text that says “VISITING WRITERS SERIES.” Two color headshots appear on the right: Lea Marshall smiling outdoors on a rocky shoreline, wrapped in a brown patterned garment, and AJ White in front of green foliage wearing a blue collared shirt.Lea Marshall stands at a wooden podium on a small stage at VCU’s Cabell Library, reading from printed pages. She wears a dark long-sleeved top and has her hair pulled back. A small round table beside the podium holds two water bottles. Behind her, the large projected slide reads “Lea Marshall” and “AJ White” with “VISITING WRITERS SERIES” in bold yellow text and their headshots displayed.AJ White stands at the same podium on the Cabell Library stage, reading from a book. He wears a black long-sleeved shirt and looks down at the text. The same large screen behind him displays “Lea Marshall,” “AJ White,” and “VISITING WRITERS SERIES,” along with their headshots. A small round table with two water bottles sits beside the podium.
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Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
Check out this event on Monday which is led by one of our previous contributors, Oksana Maksymchuk! Translation Talks is a virtual talk given via Zoom and will be hosted by Griffin Poetry Prize editorial director Adriana Onita and social media editor Medgine Mathurin. tinyurl.com/4v9zfx4m
A promotional graphic for a Griffin Poetry Prize talk with the red griffin logo at the top and the heading “Translation Talks: February 23.” Below are two black-and-white headshots side by side. On the left is Oksana Maksymchuk, a woman with long dark hair and bangs, looking at the camera with a slight smile, photographed outdoors with leafy greenery behind her. On the right is Jeffrey Yang, a man with short dark hair and light facial hair, facing the camera with a calm expression in an indoor setting. Text beneath the images reads: “Join us on Monday, February 23 at 12:30pm ET / 5:30pm GMT on Zoom for Translation Talks featuring Oksana Maksymchuk in conversation with Jeffrey Yang.”
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Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
The Blackbird Literary Podcast's second episode begins with an experimental take on two of Hannah Bonner's poems. The composition incorporates opera to create an ethereal expansion of the text. Listen to this piece and the full episode wherever you get your podcasts. 🎧 blackbird.vcu.edu/podcast
blackbird.vcu.edu
Podcast
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Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social · 16/02/2026
Our community of previous contributors is one we hope to continue fostering forever. If you're a previous contributor and have news to share, share it with us! Our DMs are open! Alternatively, you can always email us at blackbird@vcu.edu. We want to shout you out and celebrate your successes! 🎉
A gray gradient graphic with a small black bird silhouette centered near the top. The text reads: “Are you a previous Blackbird contributor? Do you have news, events, or accomplishments that you’d like to share?” Below the text is a hand-drawn black arrow pointing to the right, indicating that the user should swipe to the following slide. At the bottom, the Blackbird logo appears.A matching gray gradient graphic with the same small black bird silhouette centered near the top. The text reads: “If you answered yes to both, we want to hear about it! Email. DM. Story tag. Whatever works for you works for us!” At the bottom, the Blackbird logo appears.
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Joe Woods @joewoods.dev · 13/02/2026
Cool to see @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social on Bluesky; Blackbird was one of the first places where I was building websites with other people (in 2013!)
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Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
To call this just a podcast is to present it as something ordinary, average. As something to listen to in passing. Blackbird Literary Podcast's episode 2 begs us to deeply listen. Listen to the full episode on our website or wherever you get your podcasts! blackbird.vcu.edu/podcast
A teal background graphic reads: “The Blackbird Literary Podcast’s Second Episode…” Below is a square cover image that reads: “BLACKBIRD Episode 2: Fledgling, Flight LITERARY PODCAST.” The cover features illustrated books in pink, blue, green, and orange against a dark blue background, with a small white bird logo in the top right corner. Beneath the cover, bold text reads: “IS OUT NOW!” Two ear icons appear underneath.A teal background graphic with two black speech-and-sound icons at the top. Centered text reads: “Episode Two: ‘Fledgling, Flight’ features work by Hannah Bonner, Victoria Chang, Kivel Carson, Sara Elkamel, and Sarah Minor as well as a musical performance from the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra and interview excerpts with Blackbird’s faculty editor, Jessica Hendry Nelson.”A teal background graphic with a black headphones icon at the top. Centered text reads: “The production of this episode was made possible by our team at Blackbird as well as the VCU MFA in Creative Writing program, the VCU English Department, the VCU Kinetic Imaging Department, the VCU School of Music, the VPM + ICA Community Media Center, and VCU Libraries.”A teal background graphic with a long centered quote in white text that reads: “There were countless hands involved in the creation of this episode, but the Blackbird Literary Podcast’s episode 2 production was spearheaded by lead producer and editor, Trey Burnart Hall, and associate producer and editor, Anna Leonard.” A black microphone icon sits above the text.
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