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​Introducing the cover art for our next issue—an original piece by Bronx Poet Laureate Kay Poema, created exclusively for the June 2025 zine themed: Ancestors.

This vivid portrait speaks in layers—gold flowers blooming from the silhouette of a Black woman’s profile, her crown formed from galaxies, cosmic dust, and ancestral ink. It is memory. It is magic. It is legacy in bloom.

The inky splatters and dripping gold evoke the complexity of remembrance—messy, radiant, untamed. The stardust woven through the hair reminds us that our ancestors were celestial beings walking earthbound paths—rooted in struggle, blooming in brilliance. The flowers are not just decoration—they are testimony. Each petal a prayer. Each shimmer a survival.

In this issue, Bronx poets (and their concrete cousins) reflect on lineage, grief, beauty, and the sacred spaces we inherit and protect. Poetic Pathways: Bronx Vibes is more than a zine—it’s a vessel of story and spirit.

Stay tuned for release details and featured poets. This one is an offering.

Shoutout to @roseprayerpublishing for publishing Bronx Vibes 

In verse and vigor,
​Kay Poema

Exciting news! I'm thrilled to announce that I'm changing my name from Kay Bell to Kay Poema!
But why Poema, you ask? In Greek, the name "Kay Poema" can be interpreted as:

• "Κάι" (Kai) - Κ (K) is a prefix meaning "pure" or "clean"
• "Ποίημα" (Poema) - means "masterpiece" or "work of art"

Together, "Kay Poema" can be seen as "Pure Masterpiece" or "Clean Work of Art" in Greek.
This combination reflects a beautiful ideal: striving for purity of intention, thought, and action, while cultivating creativity and excellence in all aspects of life. I'm embracing this name change as a reminder to myself to strive for excellence and to create my life's work with intention, passion, and purpose.

​In verse and vigor,
Kay Poema

Poetic Pathways kicked off Black History Month in style with the launch of our inaugural zine on February 1, 2025! This unforgettable afternoon celebration brought together the talented contributors of the zine and others inspired by the vibrant spirit of the Bronx, to share their powerful works. It was a testament to the borough's thriving creative scene and the boundless talent of its poets. Be sure to see live videos of the event by following @poeticpathwaysink on IG. 

Happy New Year!!!

​I'm thrilled to reveal our powerful cover art, for our inaugural zine! The cover art features a scaffold boldly spray-painted with the words "FUCK WHITE SUPREMACY." I chose this cover art because it reflects the raw emotion, urgency, and resistance that defines our city's streets. The photo of this striking scaffold art was taken right in my neighborhood in the South Bronx, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. As I strolled along the Bronx streets, looking for hope and inspiration, I looked up and there it was. 
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This unapologetic statement is a call to action, a rejection of systemic racism, and a testament to the resilience of marginalized communities as it embodies the spirit of authenticity and activism, which Poetic Pathways aims to amplify.

Graffiti has been a vital part of the Bronx's cultural landscape for decades. Born in the 1970s, Bronx graffiti emerged as a powerful form of self-expression, social commentary, and resistance. It paved the way for hip-hop culture, which was also born in the Bronx. Graffiti, hip-hop, poetry, DJing, break dance, and MCing are all interconnected forms of art that have shaped the Bronx’s identity. You will find this zine is heavily influenced by these art forms. 

​Stay tuned for the details of our upcoming Zine Launch Event!!!

And the winners are...










​1st place, Thilini Weerakkody 
@dressed_up_tortellini
Poem:  Sunshine

Growing up, the mothers in my neighborhood called me, “Sunshine”
Cooing about the unrelenting brightness of my smile
So, I dawned toothy grin like it was a promise
Until I forgot what it was like to look black and cloudy
--Until I forgot that I could even be those shades

The poets say that light cannot exist without dark.
That the sun inevitably brings shadows to the earth
But I didn’t know how to honor all the hues within me.
The world only applauded the parts of me that gleamed.

The wicked always believe they are daylight.
People incapable of seeing their shadows, become them.
It’s terrifying that so many eclipses think they are blazing, honey suns.
So blinded by their own radiance, they can’t see their humanity.

I don’t know how to hold my darkness without becoming the night sky.
But I refuse to become another fool who believes they are all light.