Poetry, fiction, essays, and book reviews celebrating Puerto Rican literary traditions. From island voices to diaspora writers, we cover the full spectrum of Puerto Rican letters.
How contemporary poets navigate the space between the island and the mainland, weaving Spanish and English into new literary forms that capture the complexity of diaspora experience.
From its founding in the East Village to its continuing influence on spoken word and slam poetry, the Café remains a vital institution for Puerto Rican literary expression.
A new generation of fiction writers is exploring themes of identity, displacement, and return with fresh perspectives and innovative narrative techniques.
I write in the space between languages,
where Spanish curls into English
like smoke from my grandmother's kitchen,
like the tide returning to Rincón.
— Raquel Salas Rivera
From the collection "lo terciario / the tertiary" — an excerpt featured with permission.
by Edited by Yarimar Bonilla and Marisol LeBrón
Reviewed by Carlos Mercado
by Yolanda Arroyo Pizarro
Reviewed by Diana Colón
by Marisel Vera
Reviewed by Luis García
El Cuarto del Quenepón welcomes submissions of poetry, fiction, and essays from writers engaged with Puerto Rican themes and experiences.
We publish both established and emerging voices. Work may be submitted in English, Spanish, or Spanglish.
Submission Guidelines →