{"id":2154,"date":"2022-04-29T13:11:42","date_gmt":"2022-04-29T17:11:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/variantlit.com\/?page_id=2154"},"modified":"2022-04-29T13:16:31","modified_gmt":"2022-04-29T17:16:31","slug":"asylum-testament","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/variantlit.com\/asylum-testament\/","title":{"rendered":"Asylum Testament"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Advent Pro||||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″]<\/p>\n

Asylum Testament
<\/b><\/h1>\n

SM Stubbs<\/h3>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||-2px|||” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|||||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Josefin Slab||||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.2em” custom_padding=”|0px||0px||”]<\/p>\n

History is how we\u2019re tethered to certain
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 stretches of land. The minute you\u2019re kissed<\/p>\n

or punched, you and that place own each other.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Sometimes I want to wipe a small town off<\/p>\n

my face. I want to be so Old Testament I get
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 to choose my own plagues. I\u2019ve been resident<\/p>\n

at this address longer than anywhere else,
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 the mess is how I know it\u2019s okay to breathe.<\/p>\n

When biological defenses outpace our common
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 sense, the result is fear. Everything heightened<\/p>\n

by the need to cut things open. Blood means
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 rebirth and the sharpest blades. When opening<\/p>\n

this bible you\u2019ll find the Gospel of Mutilations,
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 in which dismemberments turn into a holiday<\/p>\n

dance. I know the graphic violence is hard to
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 take, but at least hang on through the blizzard.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Josefin Slab||||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ text_font_size=”16px”]Until recently, SM Stubbs<\/strong> co-owned a bar in Brooklyn. Recipient of a scholarship to Bread Loaf; nominated for the Pushcart and Best New Poets; winner of the 2019 Rose Warner Poetry Prize from The Freshwater Review. His work has appeared in numerous magazines, including Poetry Northwest, Puerto del Sol, Carolina Quarterly, New Ohio Review, Iron Horse Literary Review, Crab Creek Review, December,<\/em> and The Rumpus<\/em>.
\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”|auto|-100px|auto||” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/variantlit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Color-Print-Logo-with-full-text-1.jpg&#8221<\/a>; title_text=”Color-Print-Logo-with-full-text-1″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” positioning=”relative” vertical_offset=”50px”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/variantlit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/ncwn-logo.jpg&#8221<\/a>; title_text=”ncwn-logo” _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” positioning=”relative” vertical_offset=”50px”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_signup provider=”mailpoet” mailpoet_list=”Variant Literature|3″ title=”Subscribe to our Newsletter” _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” form_field_background_color=”#000000″ form_field_text_color=”#FFFFFF” header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#000000″ background_color=”#FFFFFF” custom_button=”on” button_text_color=”#000000″ button_bg_color=”#FFFFFF” button_border_width=”6px” button_border_color=”#000000″ button_border_radius=”20px”][\/et_pb_signup][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”81px||4px|||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n

\u00a9 Variant Literature Inc 2021<\/em><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Asylum Testament SM StubbsHistory is how we\u2019re tethered to certain\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 stretches of land. The minute you\u2019re kissed or punched, you and that place own each other.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Sometimes I want to wipe a small town off my face. I want to be so Old Testament I get\u00a0 \u00a0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":159740902,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"

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Asylum Linguistics
<\/b><\/h1>

SM Stubbs<\/h3>

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.9.10\" _module_preset=\"default\" custom_margin=\"||-2px|||\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px|||\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.9.10\" _module_preset=\"default\" custom_padding=\"0px|||||\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.9.10\" _module_preset=\"default\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.9.10\" _module_preset=\"default\" text_font=\"Josefin Slab||||||||\" text_text_color=\"#000000\" text_font_size=\"16px\" text_line_height=\"1.2em\" custom_padding=\"|0px||0px||\"]<\/p>

It turns out the word \u201cfornicate\u201d used to mean
an arched or vaulted form, as if two bodies<\/p>

bent by heat could carry the weight of the sky.
One root suggests \u201cbrothel,\u201d another means<\/p>

a \u201cdomed shape\u201d or \u201ccovered way.\u201d Roman
prostitutes solicited business under the arches<\/p>

of certain buildings which is why one of the
Bible\u2019s authors linked the location to adultery.<\/p>

I\u2019d ask him about the importance of contact,
skin to skin, the manner in which we most<\/p>

reveal ourselves. I\u2019d ask him if he knew how to
define love or the four elements of a fractured<\/p>

selfhood. I\u2019d tell him: we are poisoned through
our mouths, the center of half our sins. Without<\/p>

evidence we don\u2019t really know what we know.
How far will we fall? As far as language allows.<\/p>

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.9.10\" _module_preset=\"default\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.9.10\" _module_preset=\"default\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.9.10\" _module_preset=\"default\" text_font=\"Josefin Slab||||||||\" text_text_color=\"#000000\" text_font_size=\"16px\"]<\/p>

Until recently, SM Stubbs<\/strong> co-owned a bar in Brooklyn. Recipient of a scholarship to Bread Loaf; nominated for the Pushcart and Best New Poets; winner of the 2019 Rose Warner Poetry Prize from The Freshwater Review. His work has appeared in numerous magazines, including Poetry Northwest, Puerto del Sol, Carolina Quarterly, New Ohio Review, Iron Horse Literary Review, Crab Creek Review, December,<\/em> and The Rumpus<\/em>.<\/p>

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_3,1_3,1_3\" _builder_version=\"4.9.10\" _module_preset=\"default\" custom_margin=\"|auto|-100px|auto||\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px|||\"][et_pb_column type=\"1_3\" _builder_version=\"4.9.10\" _module_preset=\"default\"][et_pb_image src=\"https:\/\/variantlit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Color-Print-Logo-with-full-text-1.jpg\" title_text=\"Color-Print-Logo-with-full-text-1\" _builder_version=\"4.9.10\" _module_preset=\"default\" positioning=\"relative\" vertical_offset=\"50px\"][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\"1_3\" _builder_version=\"4.9.10\" _module_preset=\"default\"][et_pb_image src=\"https:\/\/variantlit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/ncwn-logo.jpg\" title_text=\"ncwn-logo\" _builder_version=\"4.9.10\" _module_preset=\"default\" positioning=\"relative\" vertical_offset=\"50px\"][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\"1_3\" _builder_version=\"4.9.10\" _module_preset=\"default\"][et_pb_signup provider=\"mailpoet\" mailpoet_list=\"Variant Literature|3\" title=\"Subscribe to our Newsletter\" _builder_version=\"4.9.10\" _module_preset=\"default\" form_field_background_color=\"#000000\" form_field_text_color=\"#FFFFFF\" header_text_align=\"center\" header_text_color=\"#000000\" background_color=\"#FFFFFF\" custom_button=\"on\" button_text_color=\"#000000\" button_bg_color=\"#FFFFFF\" button_border_width=\"6px\" button_border_color=\"#000000\" button_border_radius=\"20px\"][\/et_pb_signup][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.9.10\" _module_preset=\"default\" custom_padding=\"81px||4px|||\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.9.10\" _module_preset=\"default\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.9.10\" _module_preset=\"default\"]<\/p>

\u00a9 Variant Literature Inc 2021<\/em><\/p>

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","_crdt_document":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2154","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/PdfuLj-yK","amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/variantlit.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2154","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/variantlit.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/variantlit.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/variantlit.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/159740902"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/variantlit.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2154"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/variantlit.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2154\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2158,"href":"https:\/\/variantlit.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2154\/revisions\/2158"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/variantlit.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2154"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}