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As It Ought To Be Magazine

AIOTB Magazine is an online literary magazine featuring poetry, nonfiction, and reviews from seasoned writers and emerging voices.

27/06/2025

Reddit says rubber bands last longer when refrigerated.
We set the house thermostat to 40 degrees. Our elasticity stretches

from basement to attic. We bend like sweetgrass
in a weaver’s nimble hands, become baskets capable

A new poem by Ann Weil from our June Poetry Edition.

Living Through Reddit says rubber bands last longer when refrigerated. We set the house thermostat to 40 degrees. Our elasticity stretches from basement to attic. We bend like sweetgrass in a weave…

25/06/2025

AIOTB's June Poetry is live, featuring new work by:

James Benger, Barbara Daniels, Cal Freeman, Mari Kitina, Michael Lauchlan, Richard Levine, Dudley Stone, Meredith Wattle, and Ann Weil.

James Benger: “Entrance” Barbara Daniels: “White Horses” Cal Freeman: “Always” Mari Kitina: “Only the Rice Cries” Michael Lauchlan: “Trout& #822…

30/05/2025

We imagine these silly objects
as scarecrows of sorts,

holding the future dark at bay.

New poetry by William Taylor Jr. from our May 2025 Poetry Edition!

Poem for the New YearIt’s the first week of Februaryand in my neighborhood all theChristmas trees are still upand shimmering in the windowsof the houses and apartment buildings.Strings of bli…

29/05/2025

Rather, imagine Mary
untethered, a new life
beginning at 50,
leading her away from
a tombstone bearing her name,

New poetry by Matthew Pritt from our May 2025 Edition!

Joseph F. Seaborn, 1898-1956, Mary B. Seaborn, 1906-Do not think the empty grave sad,for bones do not awaitthe embrace of flesh.Rather, imagine Maryuntethered, a new lifebeginning at 50,leading her…

27/05/2025

"anxiety is gripping
like a taser..."

New poetry by Leigh Parsons on AIOTB from our May Edition!

Still Frozenanxiety is grippingnot like a Good Samaritangrabbing your desperate handsaving you from a fallanxiety is grippinglike a tasershocking you frozenstillnesshalting the reflex to resistfall…

26/05/2025

and we are living our soons without
thought of what is coming

New poetry by Laurie K***z from our May 2025 edition!

Sooner or LaterWhen you left for a minor errandyou said see you soon,then, flippantly, you repeated: sooner or later,and we are living our soons withoutthought of what is comingwe take for granted …

26/05/2025

But it’s not until the young fox cub
is captured by the forester and taken
home, penned-in as a pet
that I grasp what’s going on.

New poetry by Leonard Kress from our May 2025 edition.

A Night at the Opera(Leoš Janáček’s The Cunning Little Vixen)We have such great seats at the operain the first balcony and the first thingmy wife asks–to switch places becausethe woman’s perf…

24/05/2025

cursing the sun
whose sudden wholeness
chiseled you away

New poetry by Andrea Horowitz from our May 2025 edition!

Behind Midnight’s Curtain I Recompose Your Birth Since changing penswhat I see is you curling up lying down for days cursing the sun whose sudden wholeness chiseled you away I rewrite frigid …

23/05/2025

You tread a paradox walking
on the old, uneven road.
Some suppose it an obstacle
as they stagger and stumble
on their way that is sure to be down
because they do not see you rise.

New poetry by Geoffrey Heptonstall on AIOTB!

FloatingMarking the steps you take,the cracks in the ground testifyto the years the city has seen.A long line of aspirationis leaving you breathless at the endthat is also an arrival.You tread a pa…

23/05/2025

The joy must be in there somewhere.
Just not around the mouth.

New poetry by John Grey from our May Edition!

[Family portrait] PhotographsEveryone is smiling.At least, they would beif each and everyone of thempossessed a smilein their repertoire of expressions.But the older ones,those preserved in fadingb…

22/05/2025

The tourists see your volcanoes
Some will bring their cranes
One day they’ll charge you for parking
In your own soil

New work by Katrina Castrillo from our May 2025 Poetry Edition!

I never wanted you to be like usNicaragua I see your drive-thru coffees nowFast food for a fast worldI never wanted you to be like usSwallowing the world like an epidemicWe’re sad and lonelyAnd I n…

20/05/2025

how long can one walk on water,
burn at a stake, wipe another’s pus-filled sores,
or scrub stone floors with bliss
still fresh on their face?

New poem by Jean Biegun from our May 2025 Poetry Edition!

On CallI need to google the average lifespan of a saint.Important query, yes, because realisticallyhow long can one walk on water,burn at a stake, wipe another’s pus-filled sores,or scrub stone flo…

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