Michael Torres
Michael Torres spent his youth as a graffiti artist in Pomona, California. He teaches creative writing at Minnesota State University, Mankato, and with the Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop.
Levi Strauss & Co.
When he dies, my father turns into a small stone on the bed. A smooth oval I weigh in my palm, grip, and then, after a minute, draw circles over with my thumb.
July 2025Essays For My Daughter
I leave with my sunglasses on, waving my hand. Sometimes you call my name, your voice a taut string, and I think Michael might snap in half. But it’s strong — a tether.
June 2022As If To Say
If I need to ask my father a question, I ask my mother. I’ve always done this, to get around the fact that he and I hardly speak. It’s not that we have nothing to say. We just don’t know how to say it. He doesn’t speak English very well, and I don’t speak Spanish very well, so neither of us is even going to try.
November 2017Has something we published moved you? Fired you up? Did we miss the mark? We’d love to hear about it.
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