Thank you to Steven Bruce for submitting this short, 100-word drabble which exposes the unsaid parts of grief. You can find more of his work through the author's website: Steven Bruce │ The Official Website

Content Warning: hospitals, sickness, death and dying

Underground Bookshelf attended the Roxbury Poetry Festival on June 27th, 2026. Attendees were invited to participate in a one-day micro-poetry contest at our booth, and we received so many great submissions that it was hard to select the winners. But it was truly delightful reading what everyone submitted. I can't wait to do another contest like this at the other events we attend this summer. Below, you'll find one of the honorable mentions, "Lionfish," by Kris Rouille. Thank you to everyone who submitted. Keep writing!

Underground Bookshelf attended the Roxbury Poetry Festival on June 27th, 2026. Attendees were invited to participate in a one-day micro-poetry contest at our booth, and we received so many great submissions that it was hard to select the winners. But it was truly delightful reading what everyone submitted. I can't wait to do another contest like this at the other events we attend this summer. Below, you'll find one of the honorable mentions, "Closure," by Joshua Walker. Thank you to everyone who submitted. Keep writing!

Underground Bookshelf attended the Roxbury Poetry Festival on June 27th, 2026. Attendees were invited to participate in a one-day micro-poetry contest at our booth, and we received so many great submissions that it was hard to select the winners. But it was truly delightful reading what everyone submitted. I can't wait to do another contest like this at the other events we attend this summer. Below, you'll find one of the honorable mentions, "Resistance is Joy," by Shirley A. Jones Luke (she/her). Thank you to everyone who submitted. Keep writing!

Underground Bookshelf attended the Open Streets: Jamaica Plain on August 2, 2026. Each person who visited our table had a chance to fill in one line of the following story. Thank you so much to everyone who participated. It was so much fun to see what each new person added to the project.

Underground Bookshelf attended the Disability Pride Celebration at the Museum of Science on July 25, 2026. Attendees were invited to participate in a one-day micro-poetry or short story contest at our booth, and we received so many great submissions that it was hard to select the winners. But it was truly delightful reading what everyone submitted. I can't wait to do another contest like this at the other events we attend this summer. Below, you'll find one of the top three poems, "When Love is Blue" by Vrinda Chatterice (she/her). Thank you to everyone who submitted. Keep writing!

Underground Bookshelf attended the Disability Pride Celebration at the Museum of Science in Boston, MA on July 25, 2026. Each person who visited our table had a chance to fill in one line of the following story. Thank you so much to everyone who participated. It was so much fun to see what each new person added to the project.

Underground Bookshelf attended the Roxbury Poetry Festival on June 27th, 2026. Attendees were invited to participate in a one-day micro-poetry contest at our booth, and we received so many great submissions that it was hard to select the winners. But it was truly delightful reading what everyone submitted. I can't wait to do another contest like this at the other events we attend this summer. Below, you'll find one of the top three poems, "A Mini Thought..." by Kerrin "KJ" Jackson (she/her). Thank you to everyone who submitted. Keep writing!

"The Beauty and the Beast" by Roj is a poem that explores gender, attraction, family, abandonment, and innocence through an LGBTQ+ lens.

Underground Bookshelf attended the Roxbury Poetry Festival on June 27th, 2026. Attendees were invited to participate in a one-day micro-poetry contest at our booth, and we received so many great submissions that it was hard to select the winners. But it was truly delightful reading what everyone submitted. I can't wait to do another contest like this at the other events we attend this summer. Below, you'll find one of the top three poems, ""Rainbows" by Juanita Cox. Thank you to everyone who submitted. Keep writing!

Underground Bookshelf attended the Roxbury Poetry Festival on June 27th, 2026. Attendees were invited to participate in a one-day micro-poetry contest at our booth, and we received so many great submissions that it was hard to select the winners. But it was truly delightful reading what everyone submitted. I can't wait to do another contest like this at the other events we attend this summer. Below, you'll find one of the top three poems,, "Bumblebee Yellow Swimsuit" by Kristen (she/her). Thank you to everyone who submitted. Keep writing!