All articles from Pens and Poison
Tertius Lydgate and the Birth of the Modern Doctor
This essay originally appeared in The Tearoom by .I've never liked doctors. As a writer, I am both overly sensitive to my own mortality and something of a hypochondriac; I find most American physicians either unpleasant or downright terrifying, and I'll avoid doctors at all costs until a visit becom
Vintage Lovers
Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedYou set out to impress a girl Hotel open to the public Wooden branches, heavy benches Wandering the candlelight You said you liked her sea blue eyes— Why don't you marry her I said I'll see what I can do We are leaning on the ra
No, Cartman, Wokeness Isn’t Dead
The culture war is over. According to Eric Cartman, that is.Last week's season premiere of South Park had everyone's favorite antisemitic "fat f*ck" Eric Cartman in a pickle: with "wokeness" on its way out, there would be no more liberals to make fun of—and thereby no more point in living.While I us
Literature & Zionism | Ted Goldstein
Welcome back to the Pens and Poison Podcast!This is not your ordinary literature podcast. Join me as I explore the state of humanities education, the publishing industry, and the literary world at large through a series of spicy interviews, hot takes, and literary ramblings.On today's episode, Liza
Coaching the College Essay in the Age of AI
This essay originally appeared in Minding the Campus in July 2025. This year marks my ninth year coaching students on their college essays.It also marks my first year coaching ChatGPT.Passionate about the transformative power of writing, I signed up to teach three high school students how to outline
Masha Gessen’s Gross Betrayal of the Russian-Jewish Legacy
This essay originally appeared in Judean People's Front in April 2025.On the morning of October 8th, my dad sent a text to our family group chat:Kids. I never emphasized our Jewish identity, not until today. Jews are not always right, but millennium after millennium, they followed the light and thei
Announcing The Poetry Vault
You might know me as a novelist and essayist, but really, I'm a poet at heart. My poetry books are out in the wild, but unless you buy my books or read some really obscure literary magazines, there's currently no way to access my poems other than reaching out to me directly. I strongly believe, howe
Illicit Kingdom
Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedDeep beyond the mountaintops Where the lilacs banter with the breezes I rather like this Tyrian allegiance There are couples with their joint umbrellas Waterfalls reflecting turquoise Colors seeping into trees The dawn's collect