by Julián Martínez
whaT iF we kiSSeD .!n : 🦋++a pLaYB0I ! cArTI t3Xt > geNeRaT0R > that gAiN3d s3NTi3Nce afTer asKiNG > “WhaT?” s0 maNy > tiM3s aNd:( > w3 w3r3 ! tw0 > bUTTerFly eM0jIS 🦋> wh0 flew oV3R ! enDLeSS plus sIgNs anD . vaMpir3s > 🧛 and . kept fLying— wHAt iF we leFt h0uST0n, leFt eArTH, we w0ulDN’T n33D oXYg3n siNce . we weR3 : 🦋++ ** a new sp3CieS, 💕 . b0RN oF fL3Sh anD cYB3rspAC3 and th3 iMaGINaTi0n of a ! hip-H0P pUnk r0cK3R🧛— wHen w3 sP0ke, > blEEPiNG syNTHs faded > iNt0 tH3 c0LD n0tHInG 💔 oF spaCe,! blAck as leath3r buT ! w3 wore !t, we f0und : 🦋++* a m00n’s cRATer ! (💕+*to lay oUr eGGS iN 💕 aNd ! s00N ! it becam3 a : 🦋++foR3st of . hIGH- piTChed chirPS and ( fReQu3NCIes 🦋thAt caughT > tH3 scaNN3R –-:( of an. aStR0naUT p0LIce oFFiCer s3nt fr0m eaRth t0 > inv3StiGAT3 😦 th3 plAyb0I cARTI 💕teXT gen3rAT0r cas3— > h3+💔 st00d in ! ouR . cav3 of.- 🦋 hUMMIng c0c00nS anD hYpN0tIc hARm0NieS, > chUckL3D, >pULL3D hiS ph0Ne out aNd :(tYPed t0 hiS ! high3R-UPS, ! “H0n3STLY kINdA cringe,” bUt h3+💔 diDn’t . kn0w > w3 drank bl00D aNd 😦 💕the two 0f.- 🦋us and oUr tH0usaNdS oF 🦋buTT3RflY childreN ! sCR3EcHeD . and swArM3d > on hIM ! lik3 : 🦋++a m0shpIt. !
Julián Martínez is the son of Mexican and Cuban immigrants. His poems have appeared or are forthcoming in HAD, Hooligan Mag, Maudlin House and elsewhere. His work has received The Society of Professional Journalists’ Mark of Excellence and has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize. Find him online @martinezfjulian.
Edward Michael Supranowicz is the grandson of Irish and Russian/Ukrainian immigrants. He grew up in Appalachia. Some of his artwork has recently or will soon appear in Fish Food, Streetlight, Another Chicago Magazine, The Door Is a Jar, The Phoenix, and other journals. Edward is also a published poet.
Unstamatic 