AUGUST 7, 2026 POETRY Just Keep Swimming. EMERI JADE BEY Groundcover vendor No. 660 I stand at the edge of a maybe, breathing in steadier each time. Effort in my footsteps, positivity in my mind. I try—then try again, even when my hands shake. Because the leap isn’t magic; it’s practice turning hope into make. I count my breaths like steady drums, each one a little more courage than before— and though my hands still tremble some, I choose to walk, not wait at the shore. There’s a hush inside the wanting, a spark that learns to speak in light; I stitch my doubts with patient going, and turn “someday” into tonight. Effort isn’t thunder—quiet work— a callus-made map of “almost” tried; I lift my eyes, I take my time, I keep my heart on the rise. When I fall, I rise with purpose, dust on my knees, a clearer plan; I’m not a finished, flawless person— I’m a becoming, moving woman. Not every leap is graceful, no, but every leap is proof I’m here. I trade my “what if” for “what now,” and meet the greater thing with cheer. pieces of you JAY COOPER Groundcover contributor I have to remember how to be an artist I have to remember to surrender to myself Putting my shoes on hurts Taking my shoes off hurts crossing my legs while I'm lying down hurts I could take pills to shut out the pain I wouldn't hear the pain telling me what's hurting me but once the voice is gone, I'll want it gone forever I'll be dependent on the painkillers and I won't hear what's hurting me and I'll reinjure myself and the need for painkillers will grow the pain will return until I can't get them or I get enough to kill the pain forever I've lived with the pain so long, if I shut it out, I'll very quickly shoot for the moon we've played this game too many times not to know the outcome I need to do my yoga I need to find softness I can trust my instincts and experience I won't forget a lifetime of hard-learned lessons even if I do, they'll come back to me when put in extreme scenarios so will I I have to stop living like the sword of damocles is hanging over my head even though it is all work and no play really is a killer I have to give myself time to take in beauty I have to give myself a break You won't have energy if you don't replenish You are beautiful You are allowed to find softness You deserve to exist Summer Knights STEVEN Groundcover vendor No. 668 Firefly tending fae folk Of the Summer Court. Most valiant and wee Amongst the first Of the fair. Bullworks twixt day and night. Kneeling at The feet of Her Majesty The Queen, Her most loyal knights. Endlessly posted, The Gloaming's Guardians. Vigilant guard for beauty and sunlight versus nights mysterious dangers. GROUNDCOVER NEWS 15 Harsh Wind and Feathers MICHELLE SMOLARSKI Groundcover contributor Life is a very sad drama queen I cannot be so sad all year without shedding a single tear An ocean's nation for whom I please A centaur on the breeze Show silver through the trees Morbid Facts KELLI LEE MITCHELL Groundcover contributor Let the truth be thy known, translates to, let only I know the truth. To the ones invaded…They are buried alive, and skin walkers take place on thy name. My mind is here, my face moves to their call. My movements, you know me no more. A puppet to dance in place of the shore. But I am thine, broken into by your swine. Please see me, my last words before wine. Unkempt burden takes life from what it wants Pardon this God damn nation Its fickle units and joints Its rhapsodic pattern Its infinite mellow hush hush closed eyes Mocking birds and their prime ways tell a story Of things of yet to come They are In the horizon Over the hills The Tom Bombadills will shut ye out of the desert's companion It cries to the forest to let ye all be But Bombadill, afraid, says "don't worry thee friend I am afraid we'll all wither with an ocean's breeze or an earthquake” Wither willow for Tom Huckabee and let this all turn to stardust and cameras
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