
The Familiar Pull of Sushi Avenue
“Valentine’s Day has always had a unique way of making people feel sh—ty about themselves.” My mom mumbled across the
Lexi Markham is a high school senior passionate about writing, mental health advocacy and LGBTQ+ activism. As the 2027 Atlanta Youth Poet Laureate, she performs at venues around the city, including events at Agnes Scott and Spelman, challenging stigma, and uplifting teen voices. She has attended numerous summer writing programs including Kenyon and Interlochen, published work at VOX ATL, Atlanta Magazine, and the national youth poet laureate website. When not writing, she enjoys frequenting escape rooms, volunteering with Silence the Shame and the Center for Civil and Human Rights, hiking with friends, and practicing guitar.

“Valentine’s Day has always had a unique way of making people feel sh—ty about themselves.” My mom mumbled across the

Over the past year, concerns about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have grown in metro Atlanta. According to recent findings

Bloodstain blood disobeys All else can be cleaned, vacuumed, or swept away, but Blood stays It stains the skin

Content Warning: This poem contains discussion of self harm, suicide, and mental health challenges, which may be distressing or triggering

To burn I wrote this poem to burn — for the heavens to taste take my soul, a light —

Dear forgotten friend My heart is a foreign creature to me sometimes It has a memory separate from mine Inside

To Atlantis from Atlanta A couple letters away from here Lies a city When we are at our most beautiful, I imagine it

A circular planet with an off center core Lighter than the rest Visible, the energy burning Out one side stretches

Vultures can smell frying flesh and Charred cells they descend from heaven on wings carrying death coasting over the waves

Dear humanity, You are the AI the one before, I mean the generator and creator — you are the language