Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts
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blackbirdjournal.bsky.social
Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts
@blackbirdjournal.bsky.social
An online journal of literature and the arts led by grad students at VCU. We publish poetry, fiction, nonfiction, art, & more. Submissions are open!
https://linktr.ee/blackbirdjournal
Pinned
New socials update... Blackbird is HERE! We are stoked to be making the switch to Bluesky, and we can't wait for you all to meet us here. We will be sharing some content today that we've had on the back burner, so be sure to scroll through our feed to find out what we've been up to recently!
Read "FATHER" by Zlatan Nezirović and translated by Ena Selimović. Swipe to take a look at headshots of the author and the translator. You can read this heartfelt and moving piece at the link below. ❤️

blackbird.vcu.edu/father/
November 14, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Read "Prayer" by Debmalya Bandyopadhyay at the link below. It is moving, heartwrenching, and will stick with you through your day. ❤️

blackbird.vcu.edu/prayer/
November 7, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Reposted by Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts
“My body’s held by a mirror between Vega and Venus.
By this room. The parasol moon,
its ten cold ribs bearing the furniture of evening.”
Check out "AFTER YVES TAKES ME HOME FROM THE DOCTOR, I LIE IN THE DARK" by Cameron McGill, a dreamy yet attentive poem from our brand new Flight! It's a stunner.✨

blackbird.vcu.edu/after-yves-t...
November 3, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Reposted by Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts
"In terms of what I do to choose the actual location, I believe emotions impact how we see and experience a place. When I am composing a painting, I try to imagine it anew, more based on how it makes me feel versus what it actually looks like." - Gretchen Scherer
October 29, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Reposted by Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts
Being back in school has included opportunities to be creative in new ways, like serving as art editor for @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social. So excited for my 1st artist interview (alongside Gwen Hall) is out, featuring the enchanting work of Gretchen Scherer!

blackbird.vcu.edu/the-space-sa...
The Space Says Yes To Me
blackbird.vcu.edu
October 29, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Check out "AFTER YVES TAKES ME HOME FROM THE DOCTOR, I LIE IN THE DARK" by Cameron McGill, a dreamy yet attentive poem from our brand new Flight! It's a stunner.✨

blackbird.vcu.edu/after-yves-t...
November 3, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Reposted by Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts
*literally screaming at all of you* LOOK AT THE ART!!!!!! ❤️
New Flight alert! We are beyond thrilled to announce Flight 24.1. Swipe to see some of the wonderful authors published in this issue, and peruse pieces from Gretchen Scherer, our featured artist! Check it out now: blackbird.vcu.edu 🤩
October 29, 2025 at 4:05 PM
New Flight alert! We are beyond thrilled to announce Flight 24.1. Swipe to see some of the wonderful authors published in this issue, and peruse pieces from Gretchen Scherer, our featured artist! Check it out now: blackbird.vcu.edu 🤩
October 29, 2025 at 3:52 PM
"Writing is the way that a civilization sees itself." - S.A. Cosby.

Thank you to S.A. Cosby for coming to speak with our editors and interns this past Wednesday. His latest book, King of Ashes, is out now! ☺️
October 27, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Read "Metamorphosis" by Henry Hart in full at the link below. Check out the full flight, too! ☺️

blackbird.vcu.edu/metamorphosi...
October 24, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Read "The Stages of Ukranian Futurism" by Oksana Maksymchuk in our latest Flight 23.4. Link in bio! ✨
October 21, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Poetry submissions will close at 11:59pm TONIGHT! Get your poems in before then! All other genres will remain open. Link in bio to submit! ✍️

blackbird.submittable.com/submit
October 16, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Poetry submissions will close at 11:59pm on Thursday, October 16th. Get your poems in before then! All other genres will remain open. FOUR MORE DAYS! ✍️

blackbird.submittable.com/submit
October 13, 2025 at 5:42 PM
We have reached our cap for poetry submissions and will close them in ONE WEEK! Poetry submissions will close at 11:59pm on Thursday, October 16th. Get your poems in before then! All other genres will remain open.

blackbird.submittable.com/submit
October 10, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Wondering what we're looking for in our video essay submissions? M Freeman's "Like the Air" is a remarkable example! Watch the heart-wrenching video from Flight 23.3 now! 🎥 blackbird.vcu.edu/like-the-air//
Like the Air
blackbird.vcu.edu
October 8, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Read "Half an O of light" by Shira Dentz in our latest Flight 23.4. Link in bio! 🐦‍⬛
October 6, 2025 at 3:31 PM
A huge thank you to Weijia Pan for coming to accept his Levis Prize and give a reading from his prize-winning collection, Motherlands, published by Milkweed Editions. Swipe to see the beautiful broadsides made by our very own Kathleen Graber. This collection is one worth reading: cover to cover! 📖
October 1, 2025 at 5:39 PM
We have officially opened our submissions for video essays and sound-based literature! Click "Submit to Blackbird" in our bio to read the full guidelines. We want your work!
September 24, 2025 at 4:08 PM
We want your creative nonfiction! You can find the link to submit in our bio. Swipe through these photos to read the kind of work we’re looking for, straight from Jesse Lacy, our Lead Nonfiction Editor!
September 23, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Reposted by Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts
Diane Seuss working her genius in Blackbird:
Read "In every religion, a purifying" by the legendary Diane Seuss in our latest Flight 23.4. Link in bio and below! 🐦‍⬛

blackbird.vcu.edu/in-every-rel...
September 17, 2025 at 5:13 AM
Reposted by Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts
"She peeks into my eyes long enough to say we did not do this to ourselves." 🔥
Read "I Talked to My Cousin" by Angela Townsend in our latest Flight 23.4. Link in bio and below! 😊

blackbird.vcu.edu/i-talked-to-...
September 19, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Read "I Talked to My Cousin" by Angela Townsend in our latest Flight 23.4. Link in bio and below! 😊

blackbird.vcu.edu/i-talked-to-...
September 19, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Reposted by Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts
What’s better than @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social on BlueSky? A Diane Seuss poem to start them off.
Read "In every religion, a purifying" by the legendary Diane Seuss in our latest Flight 23.4. Link in bio and below! 🐦‍⬛

blackbird.vcu.edu/in-every-rel...
September 15, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Reposted by Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts
Yay! I mentioned earlier that I am working on @blackbirdjournal.bsky.social this year & now they're on Bluesky! Follow for literary/artistic goodness.
New socials update... Blackbird is HERE! We are stoked to be making the switch to Bluesky, and we can't wait for you all to meet us here. We will be sharing some content today that we've had on the back burner, so be sure to scroll through our feed to find out what we've been up to recently!
September 15, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Read "The Light" by Jacob Griffin Hall in our latest Flight 23.4. 🤩 @jacobgriffinhall.bsky.social

blackbird.vcu.edu/the-light/
September 15, 2025 at 3:21 PM