ISSUE 01: STATE(D) VIOLENCE
ABOUT
ANDREA ABI-KARAM
Andrea Abi-Karam is a trans, SWANA, punk poet-performer cyborg. They are the author of EXTRATRANSMISSION (Kelsey Street Press, 2019), Villainy (Nightboat Books, Sept. 2021), and, with Kay Gabriel, they co-edited We Want It All: An Anthology of Radical Trans Poetics (Nightboat Books, 2020). They are currently writing a poet’s novel about crushes.
HEARTRACING
i remove your lung
hold the shape of your breath
in my hands
trace the path of
atmosphere
to air
asbestos death rich
i am terrified
when you remove
your helmet
critical armor
i’ve lost my language
over & over again
forgetting curve
flattened out
use ash coated scalpels
to cut through stone
i rest my hand on
your forehead
they keep telling us
it’s necessary
scrutiny
i take apart
the body
piece by piece
pry apart
internal armor
layered & striated
set the sternum aside
i hold your
heart up
bathe it in
basement light
to learn
something
life saving
put your vest
back on