Archives

Editor's Note

One Twenty One is a new online journal of Literature and Art here at Virginia State University, and we have done remarkable things this...

Worthy

By Anjl Powell Winner, 2021 VSU Art + Poetry Contest After Wislawa Szymborska I prefer feelings I prefer love letters I prefer the...

Late Nights Reminiscing About You Here in Our Home

By Talya Johnson Winner, 2021 VSU Art + Poetry Contest I miss our late-night breakfast spots; we were always the last ones left. Scoping...

Sweet Louisiana

By Talya Johnson Winner, 2021 VSU Art + Poetry Contest A small city girl needs a new adventure of wonder and freedom to embark on to...

Untitled

By Angel Gaither Winner, 2021 VSU Art + Poetry Contest When I look into your eyes I see love I see the underline of lust as well When I...

Free-Verse Poem

By Ja'el Bryant WInner, 2021 VSU Art + Poetry Contest The broken boy Met the open-minded, optimistic, helpless romantic She would stare...

The Connection of Souls

By Kayla Disasi Winner, 2021 VSU Art + Poetry Contest There lies my heart outside my chest. There lies my savior. The 2 pain killers in...

The Loudest Silence

By BJ Winston Why is it so hard for people to be themselves? Why is it easier to be someone else? Is it that you are genuinely infatuated...

Melanin (feat. cierra)

By Jovan Cole "I would love for The People to receive this video and hope that they can do something like this to express how they're...

God is a Woman: A Music Video Analysis

By Ja'el Bryant Winner, Critical Essay, 2021 VSU Student Writing Contest “I feel it after midnight. A feeling that you can’t fight. My...

The Storm Chaser Within

By Toniraye Moss Creative Nonfiction Winner, 2021 VSU Student Writing Contest She was a flying fist of fury hurling hate, that faint...

Psychedelic Cinnabon

By TiShay Ferrell Short Fiction Winner, 2021 VSU Student Writing Contest It’s tug of war between my sweet tooth and I sometimes. Most of...

The Shield Maidens of Hafrsfjord

By Sherena Willford [TW// Mentions of being su*c*dal, r*pe, and depression] The Northmen are all standing and sitting together in the...

Destined Love

By Aerin Cuff Hero and Villain. Villain wants power and loves destruction. Hero wants peace and loves tranquility. Hero and Villain...

Walk of Shame

By Desiree Carrizosa [TW// SA, r*pe] The mud beneath her feet squished between her toes. Her chanclas stuck to the mud like suction cups...

Ancients' Voyager

By Chidubem Ntiwunka-Ifeanyi The clouds had turned dark as they always did before the downpour came down, slowly shadowing the three...

My Black Life Matters

By Talya Johnson I can’t find the words that won’t escape my lips to reach paper. Setting up equipment feels unreal, even creating...

Dad's Inferno

By Desiree Carrizosa Dad’s shouts bounced off the walls, we hid under our beds because a real monster roamed our home. His cool shoes and...

Shapeshifters

By Tishina Honeyblue Poetry Winner, 2021 VSU Student Writing Contest She left little licks of love In the ditch where they made poison...

Mother’s Scents

By Sherena Willford The air has different smells. Sometimes it smells sweet. Sometimes it’s pungent. Sometimes it’s clean. There are so...