spin your webs strong, your stories thick. send your words out from their corners
into the world and watch: they pull us along.
Winter 2026 Issue 3
AUDRA BURWELL
What They Called Me Wasn’t My Name
what do you call a girl
when she’s useful? when she’s
holding your coat & your ego
& the lock to your leaky heart;
do you say thank you, or mine?
i have worn possession like a
glass collar, been choked by
trophy mouths, had the hair
brushed from my face, so careful
it hurt, a doll hungered & deviant
i bloomed for men like a trick
of light, drank their love like
communion, a terrarium girl, all
sharp elbows & apologies, fleeing
before my face became a need
they looked at me like i was their
future, anxious hearts straining seams,
danger mounting before the flood.
i do not regret who i gave myself to
only that they tried to keep me
AUDRA BURWELL is a dedicated writer, poet, and communications professional with a passion for creative expression and community engagement. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing from California State University, Fresno, and is currently pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing with a specialization in poetry. In her professional role as Communication Coordinator at College Bridge, a nonprofit organization committed to increasing college access and success for underrepresented students, Audra combines her love for storytelling with her commitment to making higher education more accessible.