Delicate Emissions Poetry Zine

@delicatezine

A hand-made, heart made, 8-column poetry zine publishing small poems by poets of many sizes since 2021. Proud CLMP member; listed on ChillSubs & Duotrope. Read us at Contact: DelicateEmissions@gmail.com.

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Delicate Emissions Poetry Zine@delicatezine· Jul 6

This is Cass Torrence's first publication ever! Give her a round of applause or go find her on Insta at cassierin. "Georgia's House" is in Issue #18, and really captured my heart as someone who grew up in New Mexico.

soft blurred background with pastel flowers, maybe dahlias, in motion. this poster has added punctuation in alt text so the screen reader will pause at the line endings and other natural spots in the poem. the text is as follows: Georgia's House, Abiqui, New Mexico. Your told me find some pussy art, but the museum was closed. In the still open welcome center, I find Georgia's Chemex; Georgia's clothes Georgia's chairs; Georgia's letters Georgia's feat. It takes time to see, Georgian said. So I touch every post card in the shop the same way I touch you; slow, searching. Until my fingers land on series one: white & blue flower shapes. Ah yes, I.

Delicate Emissions Poetry Zine@delicatezine· Jul 6

Kenneth Pobo @djpoet.bsky.social wrote "I USED TO THINK IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN HERE" in form. From issue #18. #smallPoemSunday

a black and white photo of a wavy parking deck with lights that look like eyes. scary. the text of the poem is as follows. i used to think it wouldn't happen here. by kenneth pobo. the dictator drinks a diet coke while his torture camps many many disappear. As cameras flash, we see his sad smile. the dictator drinks a diet Coke while much of the country stays in denial. as his fury builds, he creates more fear. the dictator drink a diet coke while his torture camps make many disappear.

Delicate Emissions Poetry Zine@delicatezine· Jul 6

AJ Luxton (it/its/it's) is a feral queer autistic poet-thing & Stonecoast MFA grad who builds nests out of words, pigments, and shiny rocks in Venice, CA. On Instagram as tesseractPoet and FaeryChurch. This is another one from issue #18, great for #smallpoemsunday.

hundreds of dark skyscrapers covering the sky, leaving only a circle of light coming through. the poem is eight lines and this poster has added punctuation to allow the screen reader to pause at line endings and natural points in the poem. the text is as follows: i don't know how to tell you we should stop inventing the torment nexus. by a j luxton. and i don't care how efficient your design for a server farm of Omelas children is; we're not doing it. Babe, we have so many Omelas kids at home already. shut up and torture your politicians, who at least know, what they're getting paid for.

Delicate Emissions Poetry Zine@delicatezine· Jul 6

A poem from a non-BlueSky poet (they exist!), Corey is a writer, poet, and artist living, working, and drawing inspiration from Bunurong country, Naarm. They love dancing, swimming, reading, and creating. Find them on Insta at c0rey.tay. This is "privileges revoked" from issue #18. #smallpoemsunday

what looks like a dark underground cell with a stone tile floor and a little light coming through a barred window above. the poster added punctuation in the poem so the screen reader could pause at line endings and natural points in the poem. the text is as follows. privileges revoked. by corey. i wake up one day and they can't drive. we can't drive. we wake up one day and we can't drive. i wake up one day and they are kicked out of girl guides. we are kicked out of girl guides. kicked; out. outed. banned. buried.

Delicate Emissions Poetry Zine@delicatezine· Jul 6

A powerful poem by @fakeourway.bsky.social, again from issue #18: Father Dream.

a dreamy impressionistic background of an evergreen tree in a bare desert depicted as red, facing out at a blue-green sky. Here is the text of the poem. Father Dream. by Samuel Day Wharton. the only one that really sticks is from childhood; a highrise on fire, emerging on the roof amidst smoke & blame; your head pinned, to a clothesline; your eyes (my eyes) rolled back; & the abyssal space below as I throw myself down; as i wake. I dreamt this without contest, then you lived. then you died. i dreamt this without sound. you voice, gone mute. i can't recall a parachute, yet i made it to the ground. punctuation added for screen reader to pause at line breaks and endings, and at natural points in the poem.

Delicate Emissions Poetry Zine@delicatezine· Jul 6

Another great #smallpoemsunday by @luaz.bsky.social — "Here's What to Know," from issue #18

a pale blue sky with a view of a skyscraper from the perspective of bright sunflowers. the text of the poem is as follows. here's what to know. by kyla houbolt. wilderness is inside its own hat. think about that for a minute, at least, because, outside? all tamed, mowed, trimmed, trained terribly to be chained with a lock that can't open. why a hat though? Punctuation added for the screen reader to pause at line breaks and natural points in the poem.

Delicate Emissions Poetry Zine@delicatezine· Jul 6

Here's "Fish Project" by Kyla Houbolt from issue #18. Another good one for #smallpoemsunday.

a bright blue background with an orange, split in half, its peel painted to match the background. the flesh of the orange gives a bright contrast. here is the text of the poem. The Fish Project. by Kyla Houbolt. Insomnia's long sleep. Deciding whether to add a pebble to the avalanche, or to remove one. Heaven collects the documents, and we are still aghast at eternity. Punctuation added for the screen reader to pause at line breaks and natural pauses in the poem.

Delicate Emissions Poetry Zine@delicatezine· Jul 6

A poem by Samuel Day Wharton @fakeourway.bsky.social from the new issue, #18. Also a good one for #smallpoemsunday

a faded wooden boardwalk leading to a vanilla sky. text of the poem is as follows: Poem. by Samuel Day Wharton. is a poem written backwards on a mirror. a door opening, first one way. then one way, only. Punctuation added for screen readers to pause at line breaks.

Delicate Emissions Poetry Zine@delicatezine· Jul 4

Another from @steviesubrizi.bsky.social in delicate emissions #18 — "A Dream for My Cat Rebe.

a blurry image of ghostly figures in deep blue and shades of red with moviing light. the poem is A Dream for My Cat Rebe by Stevie Subrizi. You rush past the screen door and curl through the night grass a question mark no longer. You sit beside a rabbit your face as calm as a pond. You stare at me as if to say Yes, this is the earth. We live on top of it and in the dream this is our nightly ritual so i stand there and watch you nuzzle long blades of grass as they slice the wind. But the rabbit darts into the gnarled brush, gone forever, eaten by moonless dark where no dream can see your eyes follow. Come back, I say.

Delicate Emissions Poetry Zine@delicatezine· Jul 4

Here's "Upon Seeing My Deadname Used as an Alias" by @steviesubrizi.bsky.social

a blue-gray rainy roof with a poem. the poem is "upon seeing my deadname listed as an alias" by stevie subrizi. Like vertigo. Like the road in a sideview mirror. Mountains in an airplane window. Clouds passing under wings. A steel starship gliding away to its own dead world. A disused factory absorbed by the earth and its leaves.

Delicate Emissions Poetry Zine@delicatezine· Jul 4

ko-fi.com/i/IO6T222KDJZ Our free zine period runs from today through 11 June. You can get up to two individual issues at no charge during this period by entering the discount code at checkout. Go to our Ko-fi page to learn more.

soft blue illustrated ocean waves with white foam tips roll vigorously. blue text at the top says out free zine period this month is 4 through 11 july

Delicate Emissions Poetry Zine@delicatezine· Jul 4

For Disability Pride month, we are offering a 25% discount with the checkout code DISPRIDE. Valid on single issues AND subscriptions! Go to ko-fi.com/delicateemis... to check out our new issues AND our back catalogue!

orange background with a disability pride flag on the upper right corner, and a group of people of various races, ethnicities, and disabilities both visible and invisible. Plus a very friendly seeing eye dog.

Delicate Emissions Poetry Zine@delicatezine· Jun 27

a preview of #18

colorful collage with butterflies, harlequin diamonds, and a creepy eye

a colorful collage with butterflies, harlequin diamonds, and other small torn papers

a colorful collage featuring colorful harlequin diamonds, butterflies, and an illustration of flowers

Delicate Emissions Poetry Zine@delicatezine· Apr 26

A reminder that submissions are open for delicate emissions poetry zine #18 through 15 May. We'd love to read your work and consider it for our June issue. Here's the Google form link: forms.gle/zxWPQYLxmpxM.... Guidelines available on our website -- link in bio!

black background with a dark pink / light red rose with water droplets on the petals. in pink script in the upper right corner it says submissions are open through 15 may. in the bottom right corner it says delicate emissions poetry zine number 18, volume 5, issue 2

Delicate Emissions Poetry Zine@delicatezine· Apr 19

Our website is up at DelicateEmissions.com! Within the next few months, our past issues should all be there too. Don't worry -- we're not deleting any accounts now (though we deleted our X account a couple years ago), so past contributors can still find your stuff where we left it! LinkTree, too!

bright orange roses with stylized script text in black. on a green background, we have the web address which is delicate emissions dot com, and a list of what is on the site: our current issue, about us, masthead, all social links, and guidelines and submission form. on a black backer it says, don't worry, we haven't taken anything down!

Delicate Emissions Poetry Zine@delicatezine· Apr 17

"Gethsemane" by Julio César Villegas from Delicate Emissions Vol V, Issue 2, # 18. POET BIO: Julio César Villegas: Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico — raised in Essex County, New Jersey. Puerto Rico Se Levanta. Read more at linktr.ee/jcvillegas.

a faded and muted dilapidated cemetery setting. In black stylized text on a sheer white backing is the following:
Gethsemane
by Julio César Villegas

storming cemeteries
halfway acid tripping
how did you do this
I beg each headstone
wildflowers bed you
wild boys wild elders
pretend they’re forever
out there but not here
doorbells are eyes now
camps scream in tongues
they return why not you
concentrate concentrate
please this isn’t a world
to live or leave yet leaves
rage as my only response

Delicate Emissions Poetry Zine@delicatezine· Apr 17

"You" by R James Sennett Jr. from Delicate Emissions vol V, Issue 2, # 18. POET BIO: R James Sennett Jr lives, works, breathes, and chases his muse in Louisville, Kentucky. His poetry has appeared in numerous publications for which he is grateful.

a grey background with shimmering, falling gold, bronze, and white dots that look like lights. White text on a black backing. This is the text:
You
by R James Sennett Jr

rose above the metal table,
didn’t you?
Bright light sucked you up,
didn’t it?
You floated
but not too high
because you could still see
us.
It felt good,
but you decided
to come home,
didn’t you?

Delicate Emissions Poetry Zine@delicatezine· Apr 17

"Thy Wee Bit Housie" by Ryan Farrell from Delicate Emissions Vol V, Issue 2, # 18. POET BIO: Ryan Farrell is a middle school English teacher in Ohio. He enjoys writing poetry in his spare time. He likes animals.

background of a green bush and white text on a green background. The text is this:
Thy Wee Bit Housie
by Ryan Farrell

Evicting the first one was out of the question.
It was the coldest winter in over a decade—
the mouse would not survive out there.
With infinite indiscriminate compassion
I let the little thing share my home.

There was a second, a mousewife, and she bore him
sleek timorous sons and daughters like oats on a
bowing storehouse floor. The winter waned, mouse
begat mouse, and with every step I feel
one of them burst underfoot.

Delicate Emissions Poetry Zine@delicatezine· Apr 16

Opening subs a few hours early because Thursday is one of those 12 hour days for our editor! Here's the link! Share with your friends! forms.gle/fv67hsVVid2W...

a pink feathery background with stylized text saying that delicate emissions poetry zine volume 5 issue 2 number 18 is accepting submissions from april 15 to may 15, and that guidelines and the submission form are on our link tree in our bio

Delicate Emissions Poetry Zine@delicatezine· Apr 15

We'd love to get our zine in your hands! Do you have a zine, litmag, or journal you're willing to send to us? We'll send you ours -- we ship internationally!

a pastel blue and cream background with a giant orange circle mostly in view on the left center. at the top in purple is the text: hey zinesters, litmags, journals, poets. In the middle in grey all caps text: wanna swap? on the bottom right in grey all caps: D M or comment if you're interested in a zine/litmag swap!

Delicate Emissions Poetry Zine@delicatezine· Apr 15

"Self-Portrait as a Shadow in a Landlocked Town" by @saraheldot.bsky.social POET BIO: Sarah Lee is a writer and winner of the Academy of American Poets’ Madeline DeGaetano Memorial Poetry Prize. You can find her on Bluesky and Instagram @saraheldot.

a brown and khaki desert environment with a white sundog in the upper right corner. The black text of a poem on a bright pink background: Self-Portrait as a Shadow in a Landlocked Town
by Sarah Lee

Shadows on dry ground don’t bend
like those on water, rippling through its many blisses,
but snap to an angle harsh to the body,
jagged at the edges lonely for an existence
that's soft to the touch, as if the only sound
it could make is the whispered assurance
of a bird that can necklace the crown of any tree.

I could lean myself into an I on every building,
arrow my legs to a target only I can see, briefly, temporarily,
tower over the road signs with limits I must pay to break, even
turn my dirt-packed nails into the teeth of rabbits
on the walls of any room. But none of that matters
when I will fall and only follow and never outrun the sun.

Delicate Emissions Poetry Zine@delicatezine· Apr 13

"The Clockmaker's Garden" by Zebo Zukhriddinova. POET BIO: Zebo Zukhriddinova was born in Uzbekistan, drawing poetic inspiration from her homeland’s colors, traditions, and enduring spirit. Follow her on Instagram at @Z.z.zebo. Get new poems in your postal mailbox every quarter by subscribing!

white text on dark blueberry colored background. a bush with shiny green leaves and deep blue-violet flowers. the text of the poem: The Clockmaker’s Garden
By Zebo Zukhriddinova

Behind a quiet shop on a cobbled lane,
An old clockmaker keeps a secret space,
Where gears lie sleeping after years of strain
And ivy climbs the walls with patient grace.
He plants bright hours in neat and silver rows,
Minute hands glint softly in the sun,
Pendulums sway where wild thyme grows,
And rusted springs lie dreaming one by one.
He waters time with copper cans at dawn,
Polishing each second till it gleams,
While pocket watches bloom upon the lawn
Like tiny moons escaped from careful dreams.
At dusk he winds the stars with steady art,
And night begins to tick within his heart.

Delicate Emissions Poetry Zine@delicatezine· Apr 13

This is what happens when you make a Canva graphic in your sleep. Anyway, our subs open on Thursday! We're still using the Google form (will publish it on the 16th) but the process for uploading has changed. Check out our Linktree for updated guidelines! And always email or DM for clarification!

a graphic showing an entry on a paper calendar. In black block text it says save the date. In red script it says subs opening over a cut out photo of a white fist holding a bullhorn. a red graphic exclamation point is to the left of the text that says our submissions will be open from 16 april to 15 may. detailed guidelines on our medium page. this is in script. in type below it says note to previous submitters: our process has changed a bit! email delicate emissions at gmail dot com if you have questions or hit a snag!

Delicate Emissions Poetry Zine@delicatezine· Apr 12

Here's "SKINFOLD" by Audrey Kim from our current issue. POET BIO: Audrey Kim is a student in Connecticut. She is editing her first manuscript, and has been recently accepted for publication with the Academy of Heart and Mind. Follow her on Instagram at @axdreykim.

Text of a poem in white on a black background with an orange flame climbing up the middle. Here is the poem text:
SKINFOLD
by Audrey Kim

i practiced folding my reflection
until it stayed
one two three four
that’s how many times
i folded my face
pressed my eyelids like origami
until the skin held new creases
fingers trembling, counting in silence
the tape sticking to nothing as i stared
into the glass and prayed
for my face to fold
but the mirror learned before i did
and by morning
my mirror has learned the new shape
and refuses to give it back.

Delicate Emissions Poetry Zine@delicatezine· Apr 9

"Palantir" by Julio César Villegas. POET BIO: Julio César Villegas: Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico — raised in Essex County, New Jersey. Puerto Rico Se Levanta. Read more at linktr.ee/jcvillegas.

Background image is colorful paper currency from different countries, including a US dollar with a the creepy fact of George Washington partially peeping out from behind the poem. Black text of a poem on fuchsia backing. This is the text of the poem: Palantir
by Julio César Villegas

choose your oak maple evergreen
etcetera as long as it’s sturdy strong
enough for snipers spies squadrons
etcetera
Youit’s a game people are kids
nation’s a playground members only
yeah you gathered wood drafted plans
found the highest most strategic one
scenery’s nice nicer without you here
thank you gracias obrigado etcetera
or however else you say it play nice
look at all the treehouses above you
look at the neighborhood cats run
chasing lasers on concrete and flesh
I love the color red I love impunity
our handshake’s written in fine print

Delicate Emissions Poetry Zine@delicatezine· Apr 7

From "Fair bodies of unseen prose" by rob mclennan. rob mclennan was born and lives in Ottawa, Canada’s glorious capital city. His latest title is edgeless (Caitlin Press, 2026). Find him on BlueSky at robmclennan.bsky.social.

a desert landscape in tan and hazy with black text on a bright yellow background. The text of the poem is this:
from Fair bodies of unseen prose,
by rob mclennan

Inside doubt as you might burnish a shove.

To reframe, most modest scaffolding. Blood slows the feet. The green was not green was
not red. Was not yellow. See, looking. This cool shadow of trees. Confessed, prehistoric.
Hope is a thing. As time passes. Challenged. Breath held, long enough. Chords, scorched.
Earth. Featherless, sapling. To reside is not probable. Best, into openness. Grammar, uncut.
This restricted, compliance. You too could be occupied.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

, though your thoughts will not recline.

Nascent. The same opposite, seen. How slowly, divine. Do I draw water. Out loud, like
tennis. Trellis. The whole of poetry. So that what follows, precedes. A perspective, pantone.
After a while. To lead, to perplexity. Follow. Newtonian laws. No greater complaint. What
colour, is this. Is this year. This symptom of skin. Unravels. A boatload, of speech. The good
night of my chill.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

mud, regardless.

To watch the slow fuse. Stove display, flash. Interrupted. A kind of moon. We yield empty
buckets. Mottled, sensory. The tides narrow, rise. Smoke floats, grey. In the English manner.
This tightrope, unfolds. This side of panic. Interlaced, underlined. Underscored. A
torchlight, halved. In a curious manner. Recalcitrant, divine. To mend. Settling into, refusal.
Unstructured. The sky furrowed, distant.

Delicate Emissions Poetry Zine@delicatezine· Apr 6

"IS THERE EVIDENCE OF GOD?" by Vesper. Vesper is a cripple punk trans queer poet from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His work is available to read at officialvesperpoetry.carrd.co. Follow him on Instagram @official__vesper. Get fresh poems delivered to your home mailbox 4x a year at the link in our bio!

text of a poem in black lettering on a red-orange background. The background image is a later of bright green kiwi slices. Here is the text of the poem:
IS THERE EVIDENCE OF GOD?
by Vesper

Hazy azul, rouge and tangerine show
blood flow of my dysphoria, it’s alive
and bleeding. There’s this salmon shade
and I am flipping over, fried, thinking
about how my mouth does not open but
my mind shouts and I am with God if they
are out there; not your God, but my God.
This affirming, connective, pleasurable
endless energy; is this too contemplative?
I am here with you, cooling on the grill.

Delicate Emissions Poetry Zine@delicatezine· Apr 5

"Minnesota, January" by Anya Johanna DeNiro. Anya Johanna DeNiro is a trans woman and writer in St. Paul, Minnesota. Her chapbook From the Yew came out from Ethel last year. She is on BlueSky at adeniro.bsky.social.

black text on a background of a snowy capitol building with a cleared asphalt road. Here is the text of the poem: Minnesota, January
by Anya Johanna DeNiro

Build an altar
Burn it
Watch Anaconda

death squads

Delicate Emissions Poetry Zine@delicatezine· Apr 5

"21" by Anders Crawford. Anders Crawford is an Arkansan. His work is shaped by queer experience, rural life, and the quiet pressures of place. Find him on BlueSky at @anderscrawford.bsky.social.

black text on a peach backing over painted wood in bronze, burnt umber, gold, and cool blue tones. here is the text of the poem:
21
by Anders Crawford

When I was twenty-one, I lived in a run-down trailer
in a trashy park on the wrong side of town.
It was a constant juggle of the power bill
or water
or cheap takeout.
The job paid minimum wage
when the boss paid at all.
Friends came over anyway.
We played board games by candlelight.
The wax pooled on the table.
Someone kept score on the back of a receipt.
No one asked about the television.
No one left early.

Delicate Emissions Poetry Zine@delicatezine· Apr 4