HOW TO BE A MILF IN 2026
by Alexandra Naughton


a wolf cut helps
but is not essential


we are a nation of easily tricked adults


should we use poetry to galvanize
the spirits of our friends?


should we use poetry to persuade
those radicalized the wrong way?


in the words of that old el paso
commercial from 20 years ago:
por que no los dos?


poetry is something you have to see yourself
a mirror selfie can move mountains



do the clouted up even reside in it
do they realize
we only go viral via rage bait


faux pasing our way to an easy dunkaroo
a layup of opportunity
vibes play a larger role than you think


i quit being your blood boy
but america gets to project
power with our pedophile president


trying to trip up predictive text
from my one star red state


little birds should flock around you
it’s up to you to learn their language


frame mogging the mossad agent
who can’t help but molest my money
i thought we had all moved on
but i guess not


it’s a bipartisan thing


my first love was murdered
and it is gauche to write about


you could meet me at my place of business
i’ll be here the rest of my life


Alexandra Naughton is the editor in chief of Be About It Press and the founder of Bring a Blanket Reading Series and the alternative to AWP mini-festival, A Writers Party. Her latest collection, Sick of Being Inside Myself, was published by House of Vlad in 2025. She writes Talk About It on Substack.