As I stand over this stew steam,
I watch the individual ingredients
bubbling to the top.

together, together

I feel my bones breaking and these
boundaries between us cracking.
We are one.

together, together

My body, sinking in January
snow. I feel the cold on her face,
even though I was warm in my
home that terrible morning,
hundreds of miles away.

together, together

Our blood – lost.
Our life – taken.
I am mad, bro.
Very, very angry.

together, together

---

Rachel Turney, Ed.D. (she/her) is the Writer in Residence (2026) at NKollectiv in Englewood, Colorado and runs the Trident Women’s Writing Group in Boulder. Her poems, research articles, reviews, and drawings can be found in a variety of publications. Rachel is passionate about immigrant rights, teacher support, and empowering other artists. She is a Writers’ Hour prize winner and has been nominated for Best of the Net and Best Microfiction. Her photography appears on a few magazine covers. Rachel is the founder of the popular online reading series Poetry (in Brief) and EIC of PIB (the Magazine). She is on staff at Bare Back Magazine with her monthly column Friday Night in the Suburbs. She reads for The Los Angeles Review. Her debut poetry collection, Record Player Life (the b-side) is available with The Poetry Lighthouse. Her second poetry book, Retired Wannabe Club Kid, is out now with Parlyaree Press. Website: turneytalks.com Instagram: @turneytalks Bluesky: rachelturney