Odd Girl, Odd World 

Poems that describe experiences with my womanhood

Sadako & Other Poems

A poem about the dangers of the manipulation of young girls and calling out the disturbing behaviours of adults who should know better.

Have You Noticed?

A poem about proclaiming and accepting my queer identity despite coming from a religious background. 

Pledge 

I am bitter / easily swallowed by my insecurities / until I was digested in its green stomach / 

Sick

Perhaps hurricanes are destructive and mad.
Perhaps countries are blemished in open wounds


An Undeserving Destiny

Short story I’ve written inspired by Nigerian mythology specifically from the Yoruba people. The main theme is around otherness. 

Meeting Yewa 

A Godless Girl

Excerpt: 

As I step forward,
the flowers beneath my soles begin to sprout.

The Oath of Mother Nature 

Opinionated piece describing my thoughts and feelings about writing poetry. 

Restoring My Love For Poetry 

A fictional short story written in the form of a letter. In the perspective of a young boy addressed parents explaining why he doesn’t want to be a God anymore. 

The Godless Boy 

This poetic piece talks about the idea of transformation caused by the pain of a person closest to you. In this scenario, I am in the position of the deer being hunted after by a former connection. 

The Golden Deer 

A free-verse poem about queer love between two women from the Caribbean, specifically Jamaica. The term apple of my eye was inspired me to make an island version of it. 

Mango of my eye

An opinion piece based on my thoughts and feelings about dealing with anxiety while being a writer.

Anxiety vs. Writing 

Issue 8's theme," New Depths" was described in a poem about the in-depth discovery of my sexuality and coming to terms with my identity as a queer woman. 

Rachel J. Barduhn

Books

Selected work