Allana Stuart

Minneapolis, I wrote you a poem. The first lines are inspired by a post by Lisa Dubbels. Feel free to share if you're so inclined.

what do you do when even the helpers are helpless?

Mr. Rogers always said to
“look for the helpers”
but the helpers get
shot in the face
outside elementary schools,
get brutalized then filled with bullets
while protecting citizens
on the street.

Clergymen praying on their knees
are dragged away from their
peaceful airport protest.
Mamas buying groceries for the
mamas who can’t leave homes
are followed by ICE agents
while they they balance
their bags of bananas and white bread.

Federal agents murder
a poet, steal a boy in a bunny hat,
wrench a toddler
from the back of her dad’s car.
Fifty thousand people march
screaming clouds of F**K ICE
into the frigid air.
The next day, ICE executes
an ICU nurse.

They say they’re only targeting
“the worst of the worst.”

I'm absolutely ecstatic to share that my short story "A Kind of Caioneadh" will appear in the upcoming Folklore issue from !!! This will be my first short story publication, and I love this piece so I'm thrilled to have found a wonderful home for it. I can't wait for you to read it!