{"id":7357,"date":"2025-02-27T11:30:24","date_gmt":"2025-02-27T16:30:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/variantlit.com\/?page_id=7357"},"modified":"2025-02-27T11:33:46","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T16:33:46","slug":"not-today","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/variantlit.com\/not-today\/","title":{"rendered":"Not Today"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Not Today\u00a0<\/strong>
\n<\/span><\/h1>\n

Julie Weiss<\/h3>\n

 
\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||-2px|||” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”1616.6px” custom_margin=”-87px|auto||auto||” custom_padding=”6px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Josefin Slab|500|||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.5em” min_height=”1331px” custom_margin=”24px||30px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

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One street could span miles<\/span>
when measured through a mother \u0301s eyes.<\/span>
Three streets, a hike through a forest<\/span><\/div>\n

or a journey across a river. Dare me<\/span>
to hold my breath underwater that long,<\/span>
I tell my daughter, and I \u0301ll drown.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n
The world spends half its life crouched<\/span>
in gorges, voracious enough to swallow<\/span>
a lone child on a quest for sweets.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n
Asked to depict our village, she \u0301d sketch<\/span>
a chrysalis, camouflaged between leaves.<\/span>
We \u0301re safe here<\/em>,<\/span> she insists, oblivious<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n
to the wasp buzzing under the tip<\/span>
of her pencil. She \u0301s already forgotten\u2014<\/span>
last summer, the ominous strangers<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n
spotted near parks and playgrounds.<\/span>
The girl who almost didn \u0301t graduate<\/span>
kindergarten. On our strolls, I hear voices<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n
pinned beneath the wind \u0301s chapped knees.<\/span>
Muffled shrieks as they \u0301re snatched<\/span>
into a passing car. Nine is too old to hold<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n
my hand. Too old to hear the spilled coins,<\/span>
clattering under her sandals as she crosses<\/span>
to the opposite side, the bit of independence<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n
I give her. How she stooped to pet a man \u0301s<\/span>
puppy on her birthday, also the 35th<\/span>
anniversary of my childhood friend \u0301s<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n
abduction. Through her bedroom window<\/span>
she sees friends mazing their way around town<\/span>
unaccompanied, thinks the world is like<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n
the local carnival, all Tilt-a-Whirl<\/span>
and cotton candy. No malfunctions.<\/span>
No fiends hiding behind clown make-up.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n
\n

When can I go alone?<\/span><\/em> she asks again.<\/span>
I say not today, toss warning after warning<\/span>
over her objections, miss every time.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Julie Weiss\u00a0<\/strong>(she\/her) is the author of The Places We Empty<\/em>, her debut collection published by Kelsay books, and two chapbooks, The Jolt and Breath Ablaze: Twenty-One Love Poems in Homage to Adrienne Rich, Volumes I and II,<\/em> published by Bottlecap Press. Her second collection, Rooming with Elephants<\/em>, is forthcoming in 2025 with Kelsay Books. “Poem Written in the Eight Seconds I Lost Sight of My Children” was selected as a 2023 finalist for Best of the Net. She won Sheila-Na-Gig\u00b4s editor\u00b4s choice award for “Cumbre Vieja,” was named a finalist for the 2022 Saguaro Prize, and was shortlisted for Kissing Dynamite\u00b4s 2021 Microchap Series. Her work appears in Chesnut Review, ONE ART, Rust + Moth, Sky Island Journal, and others. Originally from California, she lives with her wife and children in Spain. You can find her at https:\/\/www.julieweisspoet.com\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”|auto|-100px|auto||” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][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=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” positioning=”relative” vertical_offset=”50px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/variantlit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/ncwn-logo.jpg&#8221<\/a>; title_text=”ncwn-logo” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” positioning=”relative” vertical_offset=”50px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_signup provider=”mailpoet” mailpoet_list=”Variant Literature|3″ title=”Subscribe to our Newsletter” _builder_version=”4.16″ _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” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_signup][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”81px||4px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

\u00a9 Variant Literature Inc 2023<\/em><\/p>\n

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

Not Today\u00a0 Julie Weiss   One street could span mileswhen measured through a mother \u0301s eyes.Three streets, a hike through a forest or a journey across a river. Dare meto hold my breath underwater that long,I tell my daughter, and I \u0301ll drown. \u00a0 The world spends half its life crouchedin gorges, voracious enough to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":159853871,"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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Kissing in America\u00a0<\/strong>
<\/span><\/h1>

Parker Logan<\/h3>

Margo Rabb<\/em><\/p>

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.16\" _module_preset=\"default\" custom_margin=\"||-2px|||\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px|||\" hover_enabled=\"0\" global_colors_info=\"{}\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.21.0\" _module_preset=\"default\" custom_margin=\"-50px|auto||auto||\" custom_padding=\"6px|||||\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.16\" _module_preset=\"default\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.21.0\" _module_preset=\"default\" text_font=\"Josefin Slab|500|||||||\" text_text_color=\"#000000\" text_font_size=\"18px\" text_line_height=\"1.5em\" custom_margin=\"0px||30px||false|false\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px||false|false\" hover_enabled=\"0\" global_colors_info=\"{}\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"]<\/p>

We\u2019re here \/\/ we\u2019re queer \/\/ we\u2019re a Funko POP future gleaming in the distance<\/span>
we\u2019re a lakefront sinkhole blooming \/\/ we\u2019re Americans \/\/ we said we weren\u2019t<\/span>
all that slippage and slop \/\/ but we are \/\/ stupid as children \/\/ dumb to alarms<\/span>
they won't stop ringing \/\/ silver alert \/\/ last call \/\/ we\u2019re still dancing<\/span>
we like DJ \/\/ we like liquor \/\/ we like light in our eyes<\/span>
from disco ball that\u2019s stopped spinning \/\/ reckless bodies parading<\/span>
to end of dance floor \/\/ this is America and we\u2019re still capitalists<\/span>
shadow of imperialism \/\/ arm like father \/\/ his tongue<\/span>
on ours \/\/ the easiest way to transfer language \/\/ is by force<\/span>
we know scream \/\/ we know late night and Bunny Hop \/\/ there\u2019s always<\/span>
one more open place \/\/ one more party to crash before someone\u2019s sun<\/span>
lights us up \/\/ our God said no more flood \/\/ no water<\/span>
it was a promise \/\/ it was a threat \/\/ it was a burn notice<\/span>
for the work he needed to start over \/\/ we\u2019re it \/\/ we\u2019re the left<\/span>
overs on the corner of Royal and Frenchman St \/\/ of course we\u2019re in<\/span>
New Orleans \/\/ did you think this was Florida \/\/ did you think we would<\/span>
be near a beach \/\/ we deserve dirty banquets \/\/ palms and ash<\/span>
ash and ass \/\/ palms smacked across our ass \/\/ we love-hate it<\/span>
love to hate it \/\/ the first time \/\/ I saw my face \/\/ I was at a party like this one<\/span>
I was strawberry \/\/ I was pink all over the ground \/\/ pink pretty pretty<\/span>
eyes pretty \/\/ green \/\/ I loved myself \/\/ I didn\u2019t know what<\/span>
I was pretending to be \/\/ my father \/\/ my history all over my cheeks<\/span>
I threw up America \/\/ two fists rolled quarters \/\/ America threw up me<\/span>
this city is bright with the saints \/\/ of vices \/\/ I mean \/\/ racists \/\/ nicest<\/span>
shards \/\/ we\u2019re a parish of nickelback cowboy histories \/\/ we\u2019re longer<\/span>
than every page in a library \/\/ we\u2019re sewn together \/\/ humiliation blame<\/span>
guilt greed \/\/ it\u2019s you \/\/ it\u2019s me \/\/ the stars will collect their debt<\/span>
when we\u2019re done baring our teeth \/\/ and I\u2019m not saying there\u2019s no place left<\/span>
in America \/\/ for us to sleep \/\/ we\u2019ve just got a ways \/\/ a world \/\/ a freight<\/span>
we\u2019re late \/\/ grab the clutch and turn the wheel \/\/ we\u2019re thrusting against history\u2019s<\/span>
tides \/\/ coaster rides \/\/ put your hand over mine \/\/ don\u2019t say we\u2019ll be alright<\/span>
until we\u2019re alright \/\/ this blood we\u2019ve spilt is yelling our names \/\/ don\u2019t say it\u2019s alright<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Parker Logan<\/strong> is from Orlando, Florida and lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. His work has been featured in Split Lip Magazine, Gulf Coast, Pleiades, and elsewhere. He works as a library technician in the East Baton Rouge Parish Library System. You can find more of his work at parkerpoetry.org<\/a>.<\/p><\/div><\/div>

\u00a0<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_3,1_3,1_3\" _builder_version=\"4.16\" _module_preset=\"default\" custom_margin=\"|auto|-100px|auto||\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px|||\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_column type=\"1_3\" _builder_version=\"4.16\" _module_preset=\"default\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][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=\"4.16\" _module_preset=\"default\" positioning=\"relative\" vertical_offset=\"50px\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\"1_3\" _builder_version=\"4.16\" _module_preset=\"default\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_image src=\"https:\/\/variantlit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/ncwn-logo.jpg\" title_text=\"ncwn-logo\" _builder_version=\"4.16\" _module_preset=\"default\" positioning=\"relative\" vertical_offset=\"50px\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\"1_3\" _builder_version=\"4.16\" _module_preset=\"default\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_signup provider=\"mailpoet\" mailpoet_list=\"Variant Literature|3\" title=\"Subscribe to our Newsletter\" _builder_version=\"4.16\" _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\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][\/et_pb_signup][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.16\" _module_preset=\"default\" custom_padding=\"81px||4px|||\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.16\" _module_preset=\"default\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.16\" _module_preset=\"default\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"]<\/p>

\u00a9 Variant Literature Inc 2023<\/em><\/p>

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