The Manatee, Volume 19, Spring 2026

The Manatees Editor in Chief ANDREW MOSES Genre Editorial Staff EDEN GRANDMONT JAXON DUNN SALMA EL AMRANI ALEXA XIARHOS Editorial Staff CHLOE BATTS JAMES LEARY MADISON D’URSO REYNA MEHN RILEY DIEMER Advisors: ALLISON CUMMINGS LIZBETTE OCASIO-RUSSE Contents: Double-Spaced, Story by Anthony Jimenez.................................................. 9 Threadbare, Poem by Chloe Batts................................................................ 18 Powerlifting!, Art by Eden Grandmont........................................................ 19 A Body That is Mine, Poem by Jaxon Dunn............................................. 20 Objectification, Poem by Chloe Batts......................................................... 22 Reflections Laughing, Photo by Tiffany Lavoie....................................... 23 Safety, Story by James Leary............................................................................ 24 The Most Entitled Ant, Poem by Eden Grandmont................................ 30 Closeup of a Mushroom on the SNHU Green, Photo by Ryan Vezina ........................................................ 32 If I Were a Worm, Story by Kettu Reynolds............................................... 33 I’m Just a Man, Poem by Yash Upadhyay................................................... 35 A Familiar Ache, Story by Elaine Reed....................................................... 36 In Tow, Poem by Jessie Chirichiello................................................................ 41 Lips Quivering, Poem by Ella Pedersen Jones............................................ 42 Cathedral: Van Halen Tribute Band, Photo by Ryan Vezina.......... 43 Silent Witness, Poem by Keke Carbin......................................................... 44 Train Ride, Poem by Max Hayes-Hunsicker................................................ 46 Favors, Story by Eden Grandmont................................................................... 50 The Burden of a Dog, Story by Jaxon Dunn............................................ 55 Woodland Arch, Photo by Eden Grandmont............................................... 64 Devil Horns, Poem by Sillas Lee................................................................... 65 The Bite, Poem by Sophie Green.................................................................... 67 The Solar Twins, Poem by Reyna Mehn.................................................... 68 When Life Gives You Lemons, Practice Witchcraft, Story by Salma El Amrani.................................... 69 This Ache Speaks, Poem by Keke Carbin.................................................. 71 Dial-up Modem Love Letter,Poem by Jessie Chirichiello................... 72 Stunted Growth, Story by Ryan Catalano.................................................. 74 Someone Else’s Sonnet, Poem by Riley Diemer..................................... 77 Scars and Fresh Wounds, Story and Art by Micah Ortega..................... 78 Imperfection is Perfection, Poem by Sophie Green............................. 88 Florida’s Finest, Poem by Alexa Xiarhos................................................... 89 City of Brussels, Poem by Jessie Chirichiello............................................ 91 Coastal Nights, Photo by Tiffany Lavoie..................................................... 92 Singing World, Poem by Sillas Lee............................................................... 93 Stain of Humanity on Nature, Essay by Zen Andersson.................... 94 Whalefall, Story by Andrew Moses.............................................................. 100 My Treasure, Poem by Reyna Mehn.......................................................... 103 The March to Misery, Story by Lucius Miller....................................... 106 Contributors................................................................................................ 117