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The Journal: The Journal – A Lit Mag
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Olúwatúnmiṣe Ọ̀tọ̀lórìn Akìgbógun writes in English and Yorùbá. He is a graduate of German Studies from the University of Ibadan. His writings are published or forthcoming in Efiko Magazine, Afrocritik, Tough Poets Review, Mbari Magazine, The Journal and The Culture Custodian. He is a 2025 Idembeka Writing Fellow.
Garrett Ashley
[ ]
(scalpel)
is a song in the mouth of
a surgeon gloving—
the old wound
teeming omens, belly of
curved silver to excise
what was read in strars,
prohpecy. She swallowed
silent beneath a sheet
all blue, still hidden as
God. Spotlights drenched
her limbs. Her refusal
to show herself stricken
numb & sterile as a blade<...
You’ve got a date with your childhood crush, Sandie; it’s great, you swipe on your phone and confirm a reservation for Saturday night at the Rusty Truck. On shift the following morning, you daydream about rollerblading with her, about ripping a bong together behind the bowling alley, about making out on the couch while Marvin Gaye, or perhaps Fergie, plays on the stereo.
...Michaela and I skipped down the hotel hallway, relieved to be assigned to the same room. I should’ve preferred to share with someone more devout, but it was hard to get along with the few girls at the youth group who were more pious than me. Though I told myself it was because they were uppity, a deeper part of me knew they were reminders of how I fell short, whereas being wi...