Chase Dimock
@chasedimock.bsky.social
Writer and Editor in Chief of As It Ought To Be Magazine
Reposted by Chase Dimock
Sometimes
he still tries to kick
his missing back leg
when we find
that right there spot
New poetry on AIOTB by A.M. Hayden!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/a-m-hayden-g...
#poetry
he still tries to kick
his missing back leg
when we find
that right there spot
New poetry on AIOTB by A.M. Hayden!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/a-m-hayden-g...
#poetry
A.M. Hayden: “Ghost Leg”
Ghost LegSometimeshe still tries to kickhis missing back legwhen we findthat right there spotscratch until we seeripples vibratejust beneath surfacerepeat messages activatedsent to nervesto spinal …
asitoughttobemagazine.com
December 10, 2025 at 1:54 AM
Sometimes
he still tries to kick
his missing back leg
when we find
that right there spot
New poetry on AIOTB by A.M. Hayden!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/a-m-hayden-g...
#poetry
he still tries to kick
his missing back leg
when we find
that right there spot
New poetry on AIOTB by A.M. Hayden!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/a-m-hayden-g...
#poetry
"... He stood back, gaze fixed
on the owl’s yellow eyes, the wary
way it watched him tremble, watched
him stare at the rat’s tail continuing
its descent into darkness, darkness."
New poetry on AIOTB by Jacob Butlett
asitoughttobemagazine.com/jacob-butlet...
on the owl’s yellow eyes, the wary
way it watched him tremble, watched
him stare at the rat’s tail continuing
its descent into darkness, darkness."
New poetry on AIOTB by Jacob Butlett
asitoughttobemagazine.com/jacob-butlet...
Jacob Butlett: “Feeding Time at the Zoo”
Feeding Time at the ZooThe owl stretched its neck, glugged gluggedglugged the rat deeper down its throat,the tail drooping from the upturnedbeak like a second tongue. My youngerself, barely nine ye…
asitoughttobemagazine.com
December 7, 2025 at 7:04 PM
"... He stood back, gaze fixed
on the owl’s yellow eyes, the wary
way it watched him tremble, watched
him stare at the rat’s tail continuing
its descent into darkness, darkness."
New poetry on AIOTB by Jacob Butlett
asitoughttobemagazine.com/jacob-butlet...
on the owl’s yellow eyes, the wary
way it watched him tremble, watched
him stare at the rat’s tail continuing
its descent into darkness, darkness."
New poetry on AIOTB by Jacob Butlett
asitoughttobemagazine.com/jacob-butlet...
Reposted by Chase Dimock
Reposted by Chase Dimock
Our November 2025 Poetry Edition is live, featuring new work by:
Ruth Bavetta, Jacob Butlett, John Compton, A.M. Hayden, Joshua Lillie, Joseph Mills, J.R. Solonche, and Alicia Wright.
asitoughttobemagazine.com/2025/11/29/p...
#poetry
Ruth Bavetta, Jacob Butlett, John Compton, A.M. Hayden, Joshua Lillie, Joseph Mills, J.R. Solonche, and Alicia Wright.
asitoughttobemagazine.com/2025/11/29/p...
#poetry
Poetry: November 2025
Ruth Bavetta: “My Father’s Shirts” Jacob Butlett: “Feeding Time at the Zoo” John Compton: “the musical of the bell jar” A.M. Hayden: “Ghost Leg” Joshua Lillie: “What Becomes A Tumblewee…
asitoughttobemagazine.com
November 29, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Our November 2025 Poetry Edition is live, featuring new work by:
Ruth Bavetta, Jacob Butlett, John Compton, A.M. Hayden, Joshua Lillie, Joseph Mills, J.R. Solonche, and Alicia Wright.
asitoughttobemagazine.com/2025/11/29/p...
#poetry
Ruth Bavetta, Jacob Butlett, John Compton, A.M. Hayden, Joshua Lillie, Joseph Mills, J.R. Solonche, and Alicia Wright.
asitoughttobemagazine.com/2025/11/29/p...
#poetry
Reposted by Chase Dimock
"running fingers over each tooth,
raggedness gone, transition
from one to the next like precise
words that keep the hard work
to themselves..."
New #poetry on AIOTB by Abner Oakes!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/abner-oakes-...
raggedness gone, transition
from one to the next like precise
words that keep the hard work
to themselves..."
New #poetry on AIOTB by Abner Oakes!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/abner-oakes-...
Abner Oakes: “Floating Teeth”
Floating TeethThis poem, shiny and straightat the start, soon a mouthful.I yank lines, grind awayat first words, milk teethof the draft. Uncle Bob floatedteeth, arriving at each barnwith his bucket…
asitoughttobemagazine.com
November 22, 2025 at 8:15 PM
"running fingers over each tooth,
raggedness gone, transition
from one to the next like precise
words that keep the hard work
to themselves..."
New #poetry on AIOTB by Abner Oakes!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/abner-oakes-...
raggedness gone, transition
from one to the next like precise
words that keep the hard work
to themselves..."
New #poetry on AIOTB by Abner Oakes!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/abner-oakes-...
Reposted by Chase Dimock
Reposted by Chase Dimock
"you’ll feel the whirring of the cogs
as it settles quietly into a safe warm place"
New work by Paul Ilechko from the October Poetry Edition!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/paul-ilechko...
#poetry
as it settles quietly into a safe warm place"
New work by Paul Ilechko from the October Poetry Edition!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/paul-ilechko...
#poetry
Paul Ilechko: “Memories of a Memory”
Memories of a MemoryMemory is the easiest thing to rememberwhen once again there is somethingyou can’t quite bring in while utterlycertain that you knew it onceand if you stop trying quite so hardi…
asitoughttobemagazine.com
November 15, 2025 at 9:54 PM
"you’ll feel the whirring of the cogs
as it settles quietly into a safe warm place"
New work by Paul Ilechko from the October Poetry Edition!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/paul-ilechko...
#poetry
as it settles quietly into a safe warm place"
New work by Paul Ilechko from the October Poetry Edition!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/paul-ilechko...
#poetry
Reposted by Chase Dimock
dusty instant
coffee greets us
on a cloudy
coastal morning. this gulf
smells sour after heavy rain.
New poetry by Madison Isbell on AIOTB!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/madison-isbe...
#poetry
coffee greets us
on a cloudy
coastal morning. this gulf
smells sour after heavy rain.
New poetry by Madison Isbell on AIOTB!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/madison-isbe...
#poetry
Madison Isbell: “corpus christi, early march”
corpus christi, early marchdusty instantcoffee greets uson a cloudycoastal morning. this gulfsmells sour after heavy rain.i grew up collectingshells from a foamyshore further east—so we do ittogeth…
asitoughttobemagazine.com
November 16, 2025 at 7:50 PM
dusty instant
coffee greets us
on a cloudy
coastal morning. this gulf
smells sour after heavy rain.
New poetry by Madison Isbell on AIOTB!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/madison-isbe...
#poetry
coffee greets us
on a cloudy
coastal morning. this gulf
smells sour after heavy rain.
New poetry by Madison Isbell on AIOTB!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/madison-isbe...
#poetry
Reposted by Chase Dimock
last winter's coat opened
in Fall of the year
holds forgotten crumbs
of crushed amber leaves
New #poetry by Sam Culotta from our October Edition!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/sam-culotta-...
in Fall of the year
holds forgotten crumbs
of crushed amber leaves
New #poetry by Sam Culotta from our October Edition!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/sam-culotta-...
Sam Culotta: “A Winter Coat”
A Winter CoatEmbedded in the textureof the fading pastever present in the patternof the fabric, ever presentin the material of memoryin which I wrap myselfwhen the wind turns chillwhen the sunflowe…
asitoughttobemagazine.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:31 PM
last winter's coat opened
in Fall of the year
holds forgotten crumbs
of crushed amber leaves
New #poetry by Sam Culotta from our October Edition!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/sam-culotta-...
in Fall of the year
holds forgotten crumbs
of crushed amber leaves
New #poetry by Sam Culotta from our October Edition!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/sam-culotta-...
Reposted by Chase Dimock
Reposted by Chase Dimock
October 27, 2025 at 3:49 AM
Reposted by Chase Dimock
But no matter how the ink curls,
the pills still rattle in their plastic drum,
chalk dust lining the childproof lid
like it’s been counting the days, too.
New work by Jeremy Jusek from our September Poetry Edition!
#poetry
asitoughttobemagazine.com/jeremy-jusek...
the pills still rattle in their plastic drum,
chalk dust lining the childproof lid
like it’s been counting the days, too.
New work by Jeremy Jusek from our September Poetry Edition!
#poetry
asitoughttobemagazine.com/jeremy-jusek...
Jeremy Jusek: “Prescriptions Written in Calligraphy”
Prescriptions Written in CalligraphyThe pharmacy across from the rec centerjust started doing it—flourished capitals,swans in the tails of the y’s,the refill date looped like a lasso.But no matter …
asitoughttobemagazine.com
October 3, 2025 at 9:16 PM
But no matter how the ink curls,
the pills still rattle in their plastic drum,
chalk dust lining the childproof lid
like it’s been counting the days, too.
New work by Jeremy Jusek from our September Poetry Edition!
#poetry
asitoughttobemagazine.com/jeremy-jusek...
the pills still rattle in their plastic drum,
chalk dust lining the childproof lid
like it’s been counting the days, too.
New work by Jeremy Jusek from our September Poetry Edition!
#poetry
asitoughttobemagazine.com/jeremy-jusek...
Reposted by Chase Dimock
Our September Poetry Edition is live! Check out new poems by:
Susan Cossette, Tony DeGenaro, John Grey, Jeremy Jusek, Cindy Rinne, and Patricia Russo
asitoughttobemagazine.com/2025/09/27/p...
#poetry
Susan Cossette, Tony DeGenaro, John Grey, Jeremy Jusek, Cindy Rinne, and Patricia Russo
asitoughttobemagazine.com/2025/09/27/p...
#poetry
Poetry: September 2025
Susan Cossette: “Five Things I Will Do in Aegina” Tony DeGenaro: “Flight Path” John Grey: “On a Funeral Pyre” Jeremy Jusek: “Prescriptions Written in Calli…
asitoughttobemagazine.com
September 28, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Our September Poetry Edition is live! Check out new poems by:
Susan Cossette, Tony DeGenaro, John Grey, Jeremy Jusek, Cindy Rinne, and Patricia Russo
asitoughttobemagazine.com/2025/09/27/p...
#poetry
Susan Cossette, Tony DeGenaro, John Grey, Jeremy Jusek, Cindy Rinne, and Patricia Russo
asitoughttobemagazine.com/2025/09/27/p...
#poetry
Reposted by Chase Dimock
AIOTB is proud to announce our nominees for the 2026 Best of the Net Anthology
AIOTB’s Nominees for the 2026 Best of the Net Anthology
As It Ought To Be is proud to announce our nominees for the 2026 Best of the Net Anthology. Laurel Benjamin: “Motel Room Without a Night Light” Jane-Rebecca Cannarella: “Quilted R…
asitoughttobemagazine.com
September 21, 2025 at 12:29 AM
AIOTB is proud to announce our nominees for the 2026 Best of the Net Anthology
Reposted by Chase Dimock
Their necks intertwine like
some comic valentine;
your hand snakes into mine.
We two are like those two,
A new poem by Paul Jones on AIOTB!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/paul-jones-t...
#poetry
some comic valentine;
your hand snakes into mine.
We two are like those two,
A new poem by Paul Jones on AIOTB!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/paul-jones-t...
#poetry
Paul Jones: “Two Flamingoes at Pea Island Reserve”
Two Flamingoes at Pea Island ReserveA named storm brought them here,pink pair walking the pier,reed thin birds built backwards,both in legs and bent beaks.They deftly lift and landin the crab-rich …
asitoughttobemagazine.com
September 19, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Their necks intertwine like
some comic valentine;
your hand snakes into mine.
We two are like those two,
A new poem by Paul Jones on AIOTB!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/paul-jones-t...
#poetry
some comic valentine;
your hand snakes into mine.
We two are like those two,
A new poem by Paul Jones on AIOTB!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/paul-jones-t...
#poetry
Reposted by Chase Dimock
New prose poem by John Brantingham from our August Poetry Edition!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/john-brantin...
#poetry
asitoughttobemagazine.com/john-brantin...
#poetry
John Brantingham: “The Greening of Creatures”
The Greening of CreaturesYou don’t imagine green bees until you spot one landing on the yellow rose; theymight be common, but you’d never heard of them, never considered their metal bodies.Now that…
asitoughttobemagazine.com
September 13, 2025 at 7:17 PM
New prose poem by John Brantingham from our August Poetry Edition!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/john-brantin...
#poetry
asitoughttobemagazine.com/john-brantin...
#poetry
Reposted by Chase Dimock
I used to think he was trying to outrun the backseat,
but I don't think he thought of kids, my mother,
white-knuckling the ride, or traffic ahead.
New #poetry from Samuel Prestridge on AIOTB!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/samuel-prest...
but I don't think he thought of kids, my mother,
white-knuckling the ride, or traffic ahead.
New #poetry from Samuel Prestridge on AIOTB!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/samuel-prest...
Samuel Prestridge: “My Father, Hailing from Ignorant Hill, Texas…”
My Father, Hailing from Ignorant Hill, Texas, Would Drive at 100 Miles an Hour toClean Fouled Spark Plugs, Piston Heads on the Highway from Birmingham toHamilton, AlabamaMy father burned carbon off…
asitoughttobemagazine.com
August 28, 2025 at 11:50 PM
I used to think he was trying to outrun the backseat,
but I don't think he thought of kids, my mother,
white-knuckling the ride, or traffic ahead.
New #poetry from Samuel Prestridge on AIOTB!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/samuel-prest...
but I don't think he thought of kids, my mother,
white-knuckling the ride, or traffic ahead.
New #poetry from Samuel Prestridge on AIOTB!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/samuel-prest...
Reposted by Chase Dimock
"in the absence of life, of muscles and skin, history,
all of it, ever, told in what is left, black and white."
New work by @jdisip.bsky.social from our August Poetry Edition!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/j-d-isip-tri...
all of it, ever, told in what is left, black and white."
New work by @jdisip.bsky.social from our August Poetry Edition!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/j-d-isip-tri...
J.D. Isip: “Triceratops”
TriceratopsLet go of this obsession with bones, they say. Howcan one look away from the shadow cage of ribs,or the frill like a dark sunset, the negative of itwalking alongside, two beasts lumberin…
asitoughttobemagazine.com
August 27, 2025 at 4:23 PM
"in the absence of life, of muscles and skin, history,
all of it, ever, told in what is left, black and white."
New work by @jdisip.bsky.social from our August Poetry Edition!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/j-d-isip-tri...
all of it, ever, told in what is left, black and white."
New work by @jdisip.bsky.social from our August Poetry Edition!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/j-d-isip-tri...
Reposted by Chase Dimock
Proud to debut our August Poetry Edition, featuring new work by:
Sarah Angstadt, Luis Cuauhtemoc Berriozabal, Sue Blaustein,
John Brantingham, J.D. Isip, Paul Jones, Samuel Prestridge, and Diana Rosen
asitoughttobemagazine.com/2025/08/24/p...
#poetry
Sarah Angstadt, Luis Cuauhtemoc Berriozabal, Sue Blaustein,
John Brantingham, J.D. Isip, Paul Jones, Samuel Prestridge, and Diana Rosen
asitoughttobemagazine.com/2025/08/24/p...
#poetry
Poetry: August
Sarah Angstadt: “Counterproductive Side Effects” Luis Cuauhtemoc Berriozabal: “Hearing Aid” Sue Blaustein: “Serving Orders at Brother’s Foods” John Brantin…
asitoughttobemagazine.com
August 24, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Proud to debut our August Poetry Edition, featuring new work by:
Sarah Angstadt, Luis Cuauhtemoc Berriozabal, Sue Blaustein,
John Brantingham, J.D. Isip, Paul Jones, Samuel Prestridge, and Diana Rosen
asitoughttobemagazine.com/2025/08/24/p...
#poetry
Sarah Angstadt, Luis Cuauhtemoc Berriozabal, Sue Blaustein,
John Brantingham, J.D. Isip, Paul Jones, Samuel Prestridge, and Diana Rosen
asitoughttobemagazine.com/2025/08/24/p...
#poetry
Reposted by Chase Dimock
“Nothing ever changes,” my dad says after we lose"
A new poem by @justinkarcher.bsky.social from our July 2025 edition!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/justin-karch...
#poetry
A new poem by @justinkarcher.bsky.social from our July 2025 edition!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/justin-karch...
#poetry
Justin Karcher: “In Buffalo, Our Dads Come Back From the Dead to Watch the Big Game With Us”
In Buffalo, Our Dads Come Back From the Dead to Watch the Big Game With Usand their drinking becomes ferociouswhenever Josh Allen starts fighting for his life.“Nothing ever changes,” my dad says af…
asitoughttobemagazine.com
August 6, 2025 at 10:24 PM
“Nothing ever changes,” my dad says after we lose"
A new poem by @justinkarcher.bsky.social from our July 2025 edition!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/justin-karch...
#poetry
A new poem by @justinkarcher.bsky.social from our July 2025 edition!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/justin-karch...
#poetry
Reposted by Chase Dimock
Perhaps the wink in the eye is just
the camera flash. In a moment
frozen in the past, no old gray hair
may blow out of place.
New #poetry by Robert S. King from AIOTB's July Edition!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/robert-s-kin...
the camera flash. In a moment
frozen in the past, no old gray hair
may blow out of place.
New #poetry by Robert S. King from AIOTB's July Edition!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/robert-s-kin...
Robert S. King: “Behind Some Photographs”
Behind Some PhotographsThe clearest old Polaroids have stains,a fog of black and white, or a smearof hues like watercolors in rain.Could a stranger know the storybehind the poser’s damaged wo…
asitoughttobemagazine.com
July 29, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Perhaps the wink in the eye is just
the camera flash. In a moment
frozen in the past, no old gray hair
may blow out of place.
New #poetry by Robert S. King from AIOTB's July Edition!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/robert-s-kin...
the camera flash. In a moment
frozen in the past, no old gray hair
may blow out of place.
New #poetry by Robert S. King from AIOTB's July Edition!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/robert-s-kin...
Reposted by Chase Dimock
She would not play mother to cipher-faced baby dolls
presented to her by absent parents.
When Nanny was not looking,
Marguerite tossed the blank-eyed puppets into her fireplace.
New #poetry by Susan Cossette on AIOTB!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/susan-cosset...
presented to her by absent parents.
When Nanny was not looking,
Marguerite tossed the blank-eyed puppets into her fireplace.
New #poetry by Susan Cossette on AIOTB!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/susan-cosset...
Susan Cossette: “Bad Marguerite”
Bad Marguerite-for Radclyffe Hall,1880-1943If there were others like me, they were buried away with spinster aunts in the Cotswolds, cowering in drafty mahogany chambers. I am Radclyffe Hall, but y…
asitoughttobemagazine.com
August 4, 2025 at 6:38 PM
She would not play mother to cipher-faced baby dolls
presented to her by absent parents.
When Nanny was not looking,
Marguerite tossed the blank-eyed puppets into her fireplace.
New #poetry by Susan Cossette on AIOTB!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/susan-cosset...
presented to her by absent parents.
When Nanny was not looking,
Marguerite tossed the blank-eyed puppets into her fireplace.
New #poetry by Susan Cossette on AIOTB!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/susan-cosset...
Reposted by Chase Dimock
New on AIOTB!
A poem in memory of Mike James, by Tim Peeler
asitoughttobemagazine.com/tim-peeler-b...
#poetry
A poem in memory of Mike James, by Tim Peeler
asitoughttobemagazine.com/tim-peeler-b...
#poetry
Tim Peeler: “Before the Storm, the Hawks”
Before the Storm, the HawksFor Mike JamesIt’s so hard to say good-byeTo a friend about to die.The hawks soared this afternoonAt least a dozen,Crossing the winter skyFrom Baker’s Mountain,Dipping ov…
asitoughttobemagazine.com
July 28, 2025 at 6:27 PM
New on AIOTB!
A poem in memory of Mike James, by Tim Peeler
asitoughttobemagazine.com/tim-peeler-b...
#poetry
A poem in memory of Mike James, by Tim Peeler
asitoughttobemagazine.com/tim-peeler-b...
#poetry
What's my favorite poetry genre? Bird Poetry! Here's a lovely bird poem from Agnes Vojta!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/agnes-vojta-...
asitoughttobemagazine.com/agnes-vojta-...
Agnes Vojta: “Refuge”
RefugeIn the dunes by the lagoon,the plovers scurry on the sand, like cotton balls pulled on a string.The man with the binoculars patrolsthe beach, watches over the colony.He counts hatchlings, fle…
asitoughttobemagazine.com
July 26, 2025 at 7:32 PM
What's my favorite poetry genre? Bird Poetry! Here's a lovely bird poem from Agnes Vojta!
asitoughttobemagazine.com/agnes-vojta-...
asitoughttobemagazine.com/agnes-vojta-...
Reposted by Chase Dimock
All interactions are adversarial; the way the
heater and stereo compete for my attention.
New work by MJ Arcangelini from our July Poetry Edition.
asitoughttobemagazine.com/m-j-arcangel...
#poetry
heater and stereo compete for my attention.
New work by MJ Arcangelini from our July Poetry Edition.
asitoughttobemagazine.com/m-j-arcangel...
#poetry
M.J. Arcangelini: “A List of Lessons”
A List of LessonsLessons learned too late by boys in old hollows – James PurdyThe boys I wanted when I was a boy stillcannot see me, they were never supposed to.I won’t get all these books read, or…
asitoughttobemagazine.com
July 24, 2025 at 6:56 PM
All interactions are adversarial; the way the
heater and stereo compete for my attention.
New work by MJ Arcangelini from our July Poetry Edition.
asitoughttobemagazine.com/m-j-arcangel...
#poetry
heater and stereo compete for my attention.
New work by MJ Arcangelini from our July Poetry Edition.
asitoughttobemagazine.com/m-j-arcangel...
#poetry