GLOSS

ink drawing of rainbow bent around book title in almost a horseshoe shape, originating/terminating in two side-by-side clouds

birth dirt by Pareesa Pourian // cover by Matthew Hotaling

Where do you come from? Well, where are you now? Pourian draws it out with wet paint, fingers deep in the mud, air thick with steam. These are lines to stick in the earth, scratching around ’til something viscous bubbles forth. Make yourself a hole, then it’s straight down the hatch, bound for the fires deep down in the core.

where i come from

electrically rolled in wind

grumbling

spit up heat

all over under clothes

sky lights blood

pink squandered babies

hammered gold clutched

threaded through flesh

moldy placeholder of

mossy bed

stamen stains

crushed petals sunned

some asses jiggled

curiosity’s face

how to order

If you would like a * .pdf * of birth dirt, please make a donation of $3 or more to The First 72+, and send a screenshot of the receipt to: frogs.of.gloss@gmail.com

If you are unable to make a financial donation, no worries! You can email us your order, and we'll pass you the book.

The First 72+ envisions a world where prior incarceration is not a barrier to secure housing, employment, and community acceptance. Their mission is to stop the cycle of incarceration by fostering independence and self-sustainability through education, stable and secure housing & employment, health care, and community engagement.