Leadfall

current machination

leaves no stone unturned.

its breadth collapses

perceived borders

acknowledged as figment,

to calm when closeness

reminds the body

of previous afflictions.

scenes drift by dirge-like;

perpetual requiem

for sacrifice made

to no witness, only this

cold distance

worn well, despite

the warmth of life,

perpetually undefined.

Jovanni Dwojak is a teacher and lifelong writer based out of Jersey City, New Jersey. Much of his time is spent walking around cities taking in street scenes, rolling over morals, ramblings, and other stray thoughts. When he isn’t doing this, Jovanni is a public high school teacher in New York City, and has been doing so for almost a decade. Through this experience, a persistent desire to remain open to vulnerability, learning, and the connections that shape us has deeply influenced his work. His poetry often reflects the intersections of personal growth, urban landscapes, and the existential musings of everyday life.