An expressionist painting depicts two Black individuals in profile against a teal background. The word “WORD” is at the top, and a vertical banner on the right face reads “LONGEVITY.” The figures have textured, white-painted hair and are draped in loose, gestural white fabric.

Backstage with the Features

On these pages, explore more poems written by our Summer/Fall 2026 Features, Chip Williford, Yesenia Montilla, and Kim D. Brandon.

Close-up of gray shoes on colorful autumn leaves, capturing fall vibes.

Chip Williford

Under The Sole

I get tired
Of looking up
Only to see the dirt
On the sole
That’s constantly
Pressing me down

No doubt
With all my might
I will no matter what
Continue to fight
And most likely cry

I know
You’ll questioning
Well
Tradition
Honor
Bravery
Strength
Pledge an oath
Duty
And finally, the cliché

I shouldn’t complain
Cause
Yes, I do know
There’s always
Someone
Somewhere worse off than I

Truthfully
None the less, here I am
Barely lifting that dirty sole
Just so I can breathe
While hoping and praying
That one day soon
I’ll be able to squeeze
Out from under
The heavy foot of incarcerated sorrow
I swear
If I don’t make it out today
I’ll try even harder tomorrow

You see
I can’t give up
And I won’t give in
As long as I have
One breath of air

I don’t care how bad it appears
For in my soul
I know they
They
Meaning the source
The power
The glory and the light within
Can’t
Won’t put more on me than I can bear

I believe God’s love and strength I receive
And clutch to my bosom
With all my weary might

Locked within my soul
I rest in trust
That his gift of his spirit
Will sustain me tonight

In the morning
I will offer thanks to God Again
And again for giving me another day
For I know
With him
I’ll lift from Under that dirty sole
And finally slip away
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