August 11th, 2026 - Alicia Lee
The Pantry and I are Still Hungry
we brined tomatoes
and kept the little heads floating
in mason jars behind the pasta and cereal
witchcraft hidden behind a wall of carbohydrates
and the window’s indigo deepens
as birds settle and nestle like
when the day gives its last sigh
and sinks into its couch
and you sink into our couch
but I wanted to slink out
back to the garden with a burglar’s light
fill another grocery basket
of foraged fruits
I still have vinegar
I still have time
“Alicia Lee is a Wisconsin-based writer and certified sommelier. She was recently awarded first place in the 2026 Lakefly Writing Contest. Her work is featured or forthcoming in Slipstream, Gargoyle, Whimperbang, One Art, Eunoia Review, Creative Wisconsin, Mobius and Trashlight Press. A contributor to the Voices of Neighbors anthology and the People’s Museum of Prince, she studied creative writing and wine in Washington State. She now focuses her work on her connection to the terroir of the Midwest.”