As It Ought To Be Magazine

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As It Ought To Be Magazine As It Ought To Be is an online literary magazine featuring poetry, literary reviews, and interviews from seasoned writers and emerging voices.

“Nothing ever changes,” my dad says after we lose"A new poem by Justin Karcher from our July 2025 edition!
06/08/2025

“Nothing ever changes,” my dad says after we lose"

A new poem by Justin Karcher from our July 2025 edition!

In Buffalo, Our Dads Come Back From the Dead to Watch the Big Game With Usand their drinking becomes ferociouswhenever Josh Allen starts fighting for his life.“Nothing ever changes,” my dad says af…

She would not play mother to cipher-faced baby dollspresented to her by absent parents. When Nanny was not looking, Marg...
04/08/2025

She would not play mother to cipher-faced baby dolls
presented to her by absent parents.
When Nanny was not looking,
Marguerite tossed the blank-eyed puppets into her fireplace.

New poetry by Susan Cossette on AIOTB!

Bad Marguerite-for Radclyffe Hall,1880-1943If there were others like me, they were buried away with spinster aunts in the Cotswolds, cowering in drafty mahogany chambers. I am Radclyffe Hall, but y…

Perhaps the wink in the eye is justthe camera flash. In a momentfrozen in the past, no old gray hairmay blow out of plac...
29/07/2025

Perhaps the wink in the eye is just
the camera flash. In a moment
frozen in the past, no old gray hair
may blow out of place.

New poetry by Robert S. King from AIOTB's July Edition!

Behind Some PhotographsThe clearest old Polaroids have stains,a fog of black and white, or a smearof hues like watercolors in rain.Could a stranger know the storybehind the poser’s damaged wo…

New on AIOTB!A poem in memory of Mike James, by Tim Peeler
28/07/2025

New on AIOTB!

A poem in memory of Mike James, by Tim Peeler

Before the Storm, the HawksFor Mike JamesIt’s so hard to say good-byeTo a friend about to die.The hawks soared this afternoonAt least a dozen,Crossing the winter skyFrom Baker’s Mountain,Dipping ov…

"I read the books they tried to burn..."New poetry by Jennifer Worrell from AIOTB's July Edition
28/07/2025

"I read the books they tried to burn..."

New poetry by Jennifer Worrell from AIOTB's July Edition

Behind the LinesI read the books they tried to burnThey taught me That yes, actually, this is exactly what AmericaIsAlways has been from the start.They didn’t explain what the deniers are drinkingA…

In the dunes by the lagoon,the plovers scurry on the sand, like cotton balls pulled on a string.New work by Agnes Vojta ...
26/07/2025

In the dunes by the lagoon,
the plovers scurry on the sand,
like cotton balls pulled on a string.

New work by Agnes Vojta from our July Poetry Edition!

RefugeIn the dunes by the lagoon,the plovers scurry on the sand, like cotton balls pulled on a string.The man with the binoculars patrolsthe beach, watches over the colony.He counts hatchlings, fle…

For now, a local meadow remains undeveloped,no generals wargaming its strategic importance.New work by Joseph Geskey fro...
25/07/2025

For now, a local meadow remains undeveloped,
no generals wargaming its strategic importance.

New work by Joseph Geskey from AIOTB's July Poetry Edition

STEM As Part of A FlowerNight sky of wonder before learningphysical laws governing its existenceafter being encouraged to wish upon a staras an impressionable child. Newton’s Lawdiminishing the pul…

All interactions are adversarial; the way theheater and stereo compete for my attention.New work by MJ Arcangelini from ...
24/07/2025

All interactions are adversarial; the way the
heater and stereo compete for my attention.

New work by MJ Arcangelini from our July Poetry Edition.

A List of LessonsLessons learned too late by boys in old hollows – James PurdyThe boys I wanted when I was a boy stillcannot see me, they were never supposed to.I won’t get all these books read, or…

Check out our July 2025 Poetry Edition, featuring new work by M.J. ArcangeliniSusan CossetteJoseph GeskeyJustin KarcherR...
21/07/2025

Check out our July 2025 Poetry Edition, featuring new work by

M.J. Arcangelini
Susan Cossette
Joseph Geskey
Justin Karcher
Robert S. King
Tim Peeler
Agnes Vojta
Jennifer Worrell

M.J. Arcangelini: “A List of Lessons” Susan Cossette: “Bad Marguerite” Joseph Geskey: “STEM As Part of A Flower” Justin Karcher: “In Buffalo, Our Dads Come…

Work is underway on AIOTB's July Poetry Edition, but we have plenty of space for submissions for August and beyond. Chec...
14/07/2025

Work is underway on AIOTB's July Poetry Edition, but we have plenty of space for submissions for August and beyond. Check out our submissions page for more details!

. . What We Publish And How We Publish It . As It Ought to Be invites submissions from both seasoned writers and emerging voices in the following genres: Poetry Art and literary criticism Book revi…

When she sees the spiderwebbed glassshe wants that control more than anything.New poetry on AIOTB by James Benger!
08/07/2025

When she sees the spiderwebbed glass
she wants that control more than anything.

New poetry on AIOTB by James Benger!

EntranceShe sees a shadow of somethingshe almost remembers;a blinking flash of recognition,and she wants to go in,just grab the handle, swing, all her muscles tensed in action,and enter, everything…

I’m counting the same sad horses again and again where they stand in fields and dirt lots.New poetry by Barbara Daniels ...
06/07/2025

I’m counting the same sad horses
again and again where they stand
in fields and dirt lots.

New poetry by Barbara Daniels on AIOTB!

White HorsesMy magic kit is a battered box with a bending spoon and a coin to pull out of somebody’s ear. I count white horses from the back seat of the Chevy as Dad drives us to Lennox and Sioux F…

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As It Ought To Be Magazine

Committed to publishing both experienced and emerging writers with authentic and challenging perspectives.