The Turning Leaf Journal
@turningleafjournal.bsky.social
A journal for CNF, Poetry & Art on the edge of change
🌿Subs open for book reviews & craft essays🌿
https://linktr.ee/theturningleafjournal
🌿Subs open for book reviews & craft essays🌿
https://linktr.ee/theturningleafjournal
Pinned
Opening submissions a few hours early as a treat! Send us work written through gritted teeth, clenched fists. Invite us into the moments that changed your life, for better or for worse. We want it all!
turningleafjournal.com/submissions/
turningleafjournal.com/submissions/
The Autumn edition of The Turning Leaflets is now available! Visit our website to download the PDF and read it.
Want to be part of the next leaflet? Submissions for craft essays and book reviews are always open!
turningleafjournal.com/autumn-2025/
Want to be part of the next leaflet? Submissions for craft essays and book reviews are always open!
turningleafjournal.com/autumn-2025/
Autumn 2025
The Autumn 2025 edition of “The Turning Leaflets” craft project is themed around the idea of writing rituals. Two craft essays offer perspectives on ritual as an ingredient for the writing process.…
turningleafjournal.com
October 20, 2025 at 4:05 PM
The Autumn edition of The Turning Leaflets is now available! Visit our website to download the PDF and read it.
Want to be part of the next leaflet? Submissions for craft essays and book reviews are always open!
turningleafjournal.com/autumn-2025/
Want to be part of the next leaflet? Submissions for craft essays and book reviews are always open!
turningleafjournal.com/autumn-2025/
Submissions are closing in two weeks! Send us your art, CNF, poetry, & hybrid works! We'd love to see more work centered around themes of transitions, environment, & hope--but are open to submissions of any work categorized loosely within themes "Change."
turningleafjournal.com/submissions/
turningleafjournal.com/submissions/
October 17, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Submissions are closing in two weeks! Send us your art, CNF, poetry, & hybrid works! We'd love to see more work centered around themes of transitions, environment, & hope--but are open to submissions of any work categorized loosely within themes "Change."
turningleafjournal.com/submissions/
turningleafjournal.com/submissions/
Announcing our nominees for Best of Net! Sending congratulations to these folks!
We believe in celebrating the work that’s touched us most or is doing something unique, and that’s what this list reflects.
We believe in celebrating the work that’s touched us most or is doing something unique, and that’s what this list reflects.
October 1, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Announcing our nominees for Best of Net! Sending congratulations to these folks!
We believe in celebrating the work that’s touched us most or is doing something unique, and that’s what this list reflects.
We believe in celebrating the work that’s touched us most or is doing something unique, and that’s what this list reflects.
Reposted by The Turning Leaf Journal
Over 200 publications re-opened today, including @ninthletter.bsky.social @utampapress.bsky.social @echapbooks.bsky.social @cosmicrootsonline.bsky.social @trollbreathmag.bsky.social @turningleafjournal.bsky.social @3lobedmag.com @wallstrait.bsky.social https://duotrope.com...
Re-openings for September 01, 2025
Over 200 publications re-opened today, including @ninthletter.bsky.social @utampapress.bsky.social @echapbooks.bsky.social @cosmicrootsonline.bsky.social @trollbreathmag.bsky.social @turningleafjournal.bsky.social @3lobedmag.com @wallstrait.bsky.social https://duotrope.com/news/publishing/
duotrope.com
September 1, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Over 200 publications re-opened today, including @ninthletter.bsky.social @utampapress.bsky.social @echapbooks.bsky.social @cosmicrootsonline.bsky.social @trollbreathmag.bsky.social @turningleafjournal.bsky.social @3lobedmag.com @wallstrait.bsky.social https://duotrope.com...
Opening submissions a few hours early as a treat! Send us work written through gritted teeth, clenched fists. Invite us into the moments that changed your life, for better or for worse. We want it all!
turningleafjournal.com/submissions/
turningleafjournal.com/submissions/
September 1, 2025 at 12:58 AM
Opening submissions a few hours early as a treat! Send us work written through gritted teeth, clenched fists. Invite us into the moments that changed your life, for better or for worse. We want it all!
turningleafjournal.com/submissions/
turningleafjournal.com/submissions/
Our final feature from V2.1 is Tanya Nikiforova’s poem, “To Water.”
Read this piece, and the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/t...
We paired this piece with artwork from the public domain titled “Automatic Dripping (3)” by Ellsworth Kelly.
Read this piece, and the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/t...
We paired this piece with artwork from the public domain titled “Automatic Dripping (3)” by Ellsworth Kelly.
August 29, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Our final feature from V2.1 is Tanya Nikiforova’s poem, “To Water.”
Read this piece, and the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/t...
We paired this piece with artwork from the public domain titled “Automatic Dripping (3)” by Ellsworth Kelly.
Read this piece, and the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/t...
We paired this piece with artwork from the public domain titled “Automatic Dripping (3)” by Ellsworth Kelly.
Today’s feature is an excerpt from Sam Aureli’s poem, “Geometry of Silence.”
Read this piece, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/s...
We paired this piece with artwork submitted by Cécile Gonneau titled “Walking Ghosts.”
Read this piece, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/s...
We paired this piece with artwork submitted by Cécile Gonneau titled “Walking Ghosts.”
August 29, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Today’s feature is an excerpt from Sam Aureli’s poem, “Geometry of Silence.”
Read this piece, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/s...
We paired this piece with artwork submitted by Cécile Gonneau titled “Walking Ghosts.”
Read this piece, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/s...
We paired this piece with artwork submitted by Cécile Gonneau titled “Walking Ghosts.”
Today’s feature is an excerpt from @godstained.bsky.social’s poem “on dealing with grief.”
Read this piece, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/ad/
We paired this piece with artwork from the public domain titled “Reach,” James Juszczyk.
Read this piece, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/ad/
We paired this piece with artwork from the public domain titled “Reach,” James Juszczyk.
August 29, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Today’s feature is an excerpt from @godstained.bsky.social’s poem “on dealing with grief.”
Read this piece, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/ad/
We paired this piece with artwork from the public domain titled “Reach,” James Juszczyk.
Read this piece, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/ad/
We paired this piece with artwork from the public domain titled “Reach,” James Juszczyk.
Submissions open in one week! Yay!
How/What to Submit:
turningleafjournal.com/submissions/
Read previous issues:
turningleafjournal.com/read/
Open September 1st through November 1st to CNF, Poetry, Hybrid, and Art!
How/What to Submit:
turningleafjournal.com/submissions/
Read previous issues:
turningleafjournal.com/read/
Open September 1st through November 1st to CNF, Poetry, Hybrid, and Art!
August 25, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Submissions open in one week! Yay!
How/What to Submit:
turningleafjournal.com/submissions/
Read previous issues:
turningleafjournal.com/read/
Open September 1st through November 1st to CNF, Poetry, Hybrid, and Art!
How/What to Submit:
turningleafjournal.com/submissions/
Read previous issues:
turningleafjournal.com/read/
Open September 1st through November 1st to CNF, Poetry, Hybrid, and Art!
Today’s feature is an excerpt from Suze Kay’s poem, “SELFISH GIRL”
Read this piece, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/s...
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We paired this piece with artwork submitted by @lowermelody.bsky.social titled “Matrilineal.”
Read this piece, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/s...
::
We paired this piece with artwork submitted by @lowermelody.bsky.social titled “Matrilineal.”
August 25, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Today’s feature is an excerpt from Suze Kay’s poem, “SELFISH GIRL”
Read this piece, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/s...
::
We paired this piece with artwork submitted by @lowermelody.bsky.social titled “Matrilineal.”
Read this piece, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/s...
::
We paired this piece with artwork submitted by @lowermelody.bsky.social titled “Matrilineal.”
Today’s feature is an excerpt from Alex Mason’s essay, “Strawberry Fanta.”
Read this piece, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/s...
We paired this piece with artwork from the public domain titled “Textile sample,” Unknown Designer. Manufactured by J. Claude Frères & Co
Read this piece, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/s...
We paired this piece with artwork from the public domain titled “Textile sample,” Unknown Designer. Manufactured by J. Claude Frères & Co
August 25, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Today’s feature is an excerpt from Alex Mason’s essay, “Strawberry Fanta.”
Read this piece, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/s...
We paired this piece with artwork from the public domain titled “Textile sample,” Unknown Designer. Manufactured by J. Claude Frères & Co
Read this piece, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/s...
We paired this piece with artwork from the public domain titled “Textile sample,” Unknown Designer. Manufactured by J. Claude Frères & Co
Today’s feature is an excerpt from Jenny Chu’s poem, “Someday My Mother Will Die.”
Read this poem, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/j...
We paired this piece with photography from the public domain titled “San Mateo County, California (Coast),” by Minor White.
Read this poem, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/j...
We paired this piece with photography from the public domain titled “San Mateo County, California (Coast),” by Minor White.
August 25, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Today’s feature is an excerpt from Jenny Chu’s poem, “Someday My Mother Will Die.”
Read this poem, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/j...
We paired this piece with photography from the public domain titled “San Mateo County, California (Coast),” by Minor White.
Read this poem, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/j...
We paired this piece with photography from the public domain titled “San Mateo County, California (Coast),” by Minor White.
Today’s feature is an excerpt from Nancy L. Penrose’s essay, “In a Labyrinth, Time is Suspended.”
Link here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/n...
We commission at least 1 original piece of artwork per issue & worked with Artist @anitaeralieschley.bsky.social to create this one
Link here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/n...
We commission at least 1 original piece of artwork per issue & worked with Artist @anitaeralieschley.bsky.social to create this one
July 23, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Today’s feature is an excerpt from Nancy L. Penrose’s essay, “In a Labyrinth, Time is Suspended.”
Link here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/n...
We commission at least 1 original piece of artwork per issue & worked with Artist @anitaeralieschley.bsky.social to create this one
Link here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/n...
We commission at least 1 original piece of artwork per issue & worked with Artist @anitaeralieschley.bsky.social to create this one
Today’s feature is an excerpt from Alex Dawson’s poem, “Whale Song”
Read this poem, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/a...
We paired this piece with artwork from the public domain by Rudy Pozzatti.
Read this poem, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/a...
We paired this piece with artwork from the public domain by Rudy Pozzatti.
July 23, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Today’s feature is an excerpt from Alex Dawson’s poem, “Whale Song”
Read this poem, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/a...
We paired this piece with artwork from the public domain by Rudy Pozzatti.
Read this poem, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/a...
We paired this piece with artwork from the public domain by Rudy Pozzatti.
The summer 2025 Leaflet is now available! Featuring an interview with @susanbarryschulz.com
Join us in the conversation 🧵:
How do you find inspiration from art? If you try your hand at ekphrastic writing, share it with us! We'd love to read it.
Link Here: turningleafjournal.com/leaflet-summ...
Join us in the conversation 🧵:
How do you find inspiration from art? If you try your hand at ekphrastic writing, share it with us! We'd love to read it.
Link Here: turningleafjournal.com/leaflet-summ...
July 15, 2025 at 1:06 PM
The summer 2025 Leaflet is now available! Featuring an interview with @susanbarryschulz.com
Join us in the conversation 🧵:
How do you find inspiration from art? If you try your hand at ekphrastic writing, share it with us! We'd love to read it.
Link Here: turningleafjournal.com/leaflet-summ...
Join us in the conversation 🧵:
How do you find inspiration from art? If you try your hand at ekphrastic writing, share it with us! We'd love to read it.
Link Here: turningleafjournal.com/leaflet-summ...
Today’s feature is an excerpt from Kaavya Butaney’s poem, “Tangerines”
Read this poem, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/k...
We paired this piece with artwork titled “Tangerine Sugar,” by Benjamin Schonzeit. Used with permission from Harvard Art Museum/Fogg Museum.
Read this poem, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/k...
We paired this piece with artwork titled “Tangerine Sugar,” by Benjamin Schonzeit. Used with permission from Harvard Art Museum/Fogg Museum.
July 14, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Today’s feature is an excerpt from Kaavya Butaney’s poem, “Tangerines”
Read this poem, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/k...
We paired this piece with artwork titled “Tangerine Sugar,” by Benjamin Schonzeit. Used with permission from Harvard Art Museum/Fogg Museum.
Read this poem, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/k...
We paired this piece with artwork titled “Tangerine Sugar,” by Benjamin Schonzeit. Used with permission from Harvard Art Museum/Fogg Museum.
Today’s feature is an excerpt from Christina Lee’s essay, “Wrong Fruit.”
Read this piece, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/c...
We paired this piece with artwork from the public domain titled “Composition,” Serge Poliakoff.
Read this piece, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/c...
We paired this piece with artwork from the public domain titled “Composition,” Serge Poliakoff.
July 3, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Today’s feature is an excerpt from Christina Lee’s essay, “Wrong Fruit.”
Read this piece, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/c...
We paired this piece with artwork from the public domain titled “Composition,” Serge Poliakoff.
Read this piece, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/c...
We paired this piece with artwork from the public domain titled “Composition,” Serge Poliakoff.
Today’s feature is an excerpt from Patty Somlo's essay, “Trusting Water to Hold Me.”
Read this piece, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/p...
We paired this piece with artwork from the public domain titled “The Derelict” or “The Lost Boat,” Arthur Wesley Dow.
Read this piece, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/p...
We paired this piece with artwork from the public domain titled “The Derelict” or “The Lost Boat,” Arthur Wesley Dow.
July 1, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Today’s feature is an excerpt from Patty Somlo's essay, “Trusting Water to Hold Me.”
Read this piece, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/p...
We paired this piece with artwork from the public domain titled “The Derelict” or “The Lost Boat,” Arthur Wesley Dow.
Read this piece, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/p...
We paired this piece with artwork from the public domain titled “The Derelict” or “The Lost Boat,” Arthur Wesley Dow.
Today’s feature is an excerpt from Anna Nygren’s poem, “fish calendar.”
Read this piece, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/a...
We paired this piece with artwork from the public domain titled “Fish Series, No.6,” Charles Demuth.
Read this piece, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/a...
We paired this piece with artwork from the public domain titled “Fish Series, No.6,” Charles Demuth.
June 17, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Today’s feature is an excerpt from Anna Nygren’s poem, “fish calendar.”
Read this piece, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/a...
We paired this piece with artwork from the public domain titled “Fish Series, No.6,” Charles Demuth.
Read this piece, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/a...
We paired this piece with artwork from the public domain titled “Fish Series, No.6,” Charles Demuth.
Reposted by The Turning Leaf Journal
I'm excited to see my poem, Geometry of Silence, in @turningleafjournal.bsky.social . It was a difficult one to write. For years, I avoided speaking openly about my childhood, but now I look trauma straight in the eye. Healing sometimes begins by naming what once had no words.
“Geometry of Silence,” Sam Aureli
Geometry of SilenceBy Sam Aureli It began with a tumble of chairs,a child’s bones, still soft,twisted—a geometry lesson in pain.I bit down hard,swallowed the scream.By nine, I knewthe precise lengt…
turningleafjournal.com
June 9, 2025 at 1:57 PM
I'm excited to see my poem, Geometry of Silence, in @turningleafjournal.bsky.social . It was a difficult one to write. For years, I avoided speaking openly about my childhood, but now I look trauma straight in the eye. Healing sometimes begins by naming what once had no words.
Today’s feature is an excerpt from @adlibby.bsky.social's poem, “A Moon by Any Other Name."
Read this piece, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/a...
We paired this piece with artwork from the public domain titled “Courbevoie: Factories by Moonlight,” Georges Seurat.
Read this piece, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/a...
We paired this piece with artwork from the public domain titled “Courbevoie: Factories by Moonlight,” Georges Seurat.
June 11, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Today’s feature is an excerpt from @adlibby.bsky.social's poem, “A Moon by Any Other Name."
Read this piece, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/a...
We paired this piece with artwork from the public domain titled “Courbevoie: Factories by Moonlight,” Georges Seurat.
Read this piece, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/a...
We paired this piece with artwork from the public domain titled “Courbevoie: Factories by Moonlight,” Georges Seurat.
Today’s feature is an excerpt from Shannon Mulvey’s essay, “Christmas Dinner.”
Read this piece, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/s...
We paired this piece with artwork from the public domain titled “Paper Plates,” by Helen Torr.
Read this piece, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/s...
We paired this piece with artwork from the public domain titled “Paper Plates,” by Helen Torr.
June 8, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Today’s feature is an excerpt from Shannon Mulvey’s essay, “Christmas Dinner.”
Read this piece, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/s...
We paired this piece with artwork from the public domain titled “Paper Plates,” by Helen Torr.
Read this piece, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/s...
We paired this piece with artwork from the public domain titled “Paper Plates,” by Helen Torr.
We begin features from Volume 2, Issue 1 with this heart wrenching poem from Kelsy Bellah, “I stopped admiring the sky.”
Read this poem, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/k...
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We paired this piece with artwork from the public domain.
Read this poem, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/k...
::
We paired this piece with artwork from the public domain.
June 4, 2025 at 1:28 PM
We begin features from Volume 2, Issue 1 with this heart wrenching poem from Kelsy Bellah, “I stopped admiring the sky.”
Read this poem, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/k...
::
We paired this piece with artwork from the public domain.
Read this poem, the rest of V2.1 here: turningleafjournal.com/2025/06/01/k...
::
We paired this piece with artwork from the public domain.
It’s here! Volume 2, Issue 1 is now available. We’re so excited to share this with you.
This gorgeous cover artwork is from Cécile Gonneau. The piece is titled “les absents (the missing).”
Read the whole thing here: turningleafjournal.com/volume-2-iss...
This gorgeous cover artwork is from Cécile Gonneau. The piece is titled “les absents (the missing).”
Read the whole thing here: turningleafjournal.com/volume-2-iss...
June 1, 2025 at 2:56 PM
It’s here! Volume 2, Issue 1 is now available. We’re so excited to share this with you.
This gorgeous cover artwork is from Cécile Gonneau. The piece is titled “les absents (the missing).”
Read the whole thing here: turningleafjournal.com/volume-2-iss...
This gorgeous cover artwork is from Cécile Gonneau. The piece is titled “les absents (the missing).”
Read the whole thing here: turningleafjournal.com/volume-2-iss...
We're just a few days away from the release of Volume 2, Issue 1! Please share congratulate our contributors--we're so grateful and excited to publish their work! 🌿
As always, we're committed to transparency and are making all of our numbers public (slide 2).
As always, we're committed to transparency and are making all of our numbers public (slide 2).
May 28, 2025 at 9:00 PM
We're just a few days away from the release of Volume 2, Issue 1! Please share congratulate our contributors--we're so grateful and excited to publish their work! 🌿
As always, we're committed to transparency and are making all of our numbers public (slide 2).
As always, we're committed to transparency and are making all of our numbers public (slide 2).