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Ego Death
Aubrey Phoenix That’s what I mean, though-Everything has burned down.I’m rising from the ashes,Albeit traumatized and shaken,But I’ve never felt more alive.It feels like The UniverseHas stripped me down to my bare soul-Pulled me apart into pure essence,Leaving behind scattered nouns and adjectivesThat I’ve claimed in this life,Ultimately, it all means nothing. I mean, seriously;I… Continue reading
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The Silent Era
Rick Doyle There was a time when Max was silent as a moon,as a satellite in transit behind the lunar pebble,as a man whose mouth is shoveled full of earth. It wasn’t just that he couldn’t speakin public — oh, no! He couldn’t whispersweet nothings, couldn’t utter a prayer,couldn’t even tell a knock-knock joke.And this… Continue reading
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The Spark
R.M. Carlson a heart breaks again,and another,and another… each time, each teareach betrayaldevastationthe thread of lovefollowsthe sharp needle: binding, mending, strengtheninglove awakening, eyes openingto the collective consciousness love abides in alla light to shinethe spark must be struckby the needle: binding, mending, strengtheningweaving all togetheras one stronger togetherone love, one lightdarkness is onlywhere lighthas not… Continue reading
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All the Naked Emperors
Patricia J McLean If we put them end to end all the naked menall the naked emperors from the firstin earth’s history to the lastthey would circle the globe.A million moons shining up at the skytheir mouths full of dirttheir penises sticking into the soft earthand their anuses would be singingreaching for a high notedescribing… Continue reading
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Inauguration
Bartholomew Barker The Emperor strode across the stage, declaringhe’d woven his suit and robes from the purest goldand they were the classiest, comfortablest clotheshe or anyone had ever worn. Social media saluted, his cultists cheered,grateful reporters transcribed every word,and very serious pundits on television debatedboth sides of his glory. But the poets and children pointed… Continue reading
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when asked for help writing a satire
Matthew E. Henry she said it was due in a few hours. so I closed my laptop,stopped grading, and did my colleague’s job. taught herthe classic definitions and offered some examples. butshe was too Black to watch SNL and too young to rememberIn Living Color. so I re-opened my laptop and showed hera Key &… Continue reading
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Maverick
Adam G. House The emperor has no clothes,throwing rocks from his glass house,atop his ivory towers,watching each quiet church mouse. Oppressing the subjects with his greedy dictates—self-serving proclamations for power.Thieving sleight of hand from behind his holy veil:sanctimonious stench, sheep-skinned wolf, thorny fading flower. The royal lighthouse goes dim,but the patriarch says it’s getting brighter.The… Continue reading
activism, Adam G House, American politics, anti-authoritarian, Authoritarianism, chapbook, civil liberties, contemporary poetry, digital chapbook, dissent, free speech, poems of protest, Poetry, political poetry, protest poetry, Record of Dissent, resistance, The Chaos Section Poetry Project, Trump, Veteran Poetry -
Everyone Loses in this Monopoly Game
Merril D. Smith The first square is empty, walkon the beach, envision a city,build it, they will come, ferry to railroad, Philadelphia day-trippers,vacationers, escapers, walk the Boardwalk,it’s the place to be seen— women in diamonds and furs—turn a corner, jumpa square, find the bootleggers and bookies,make a deal,over there, a new hotel. On another square,… Continue reading
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Vanishing Into…
Kate Bremer Luminous darkness between rooster callsLooking into pupil-less goateyes, connecting with her nose, the quiver,the crevice, the device, crevasse, the divine,Divide. Birdsong. The pottery next door–Cracked and kilned and built. StopAnd hear the aftermath of death–Crater of belonging–clotheslines full,Toys hidden, casinos buzzing. Far awayDonkey speaks, not one of ours.Forest Service mules have been fired;Some… Continue reading
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Hope
Rachel Armes-McLaughlin Days like todayit feels like all’s about to end. The earthquakes with thousands lost.The floods, never seen before.The fires consume forest and home. Democracy gone. Then nights like tonight, there’s hope restored: Cory Booker on the senate floor,making history. A record broke.Wisconsin, fighting back against purchased votes. Blue Violets at the park,and news… Continue reading
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About the Project
The Chaos Section Poetry Project publishes curated poetry collections rather than individual poems on a rolling basis. Our work is primarily rooted in contemporary free verse, though we’re open to a wide range of forms when they serve the book or project.
Each collection is built around a central theme and shaped through close editorial collaboration, with an emphasis on voice, craft, and emotional honesty.
All books are available free to read on the site and as free high-quality digital downloads. Print editions are offered for readers who want a physical copy.
Record of Dissent: Poems of Protest in an Authoritarian Age
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