The Neon Gods Hum Softly & Other Poems, by Ishani Ray

Poetry, chapbook, 28 pages, from Bottlecap Features. The Neon Gods Hum Softly & Other Poems is a striking collection that navigates the dissonance between the digital age and the raw, unvarnished human experience. Through a blend of visceral imagery and lyrical precision, these poems dissect themes of alienation, artificial intimacy, and the quiet rebellions simmering beneath the surface of modern life. From the electric decay of urban landscapes to the fragile solace found in nature, each piece serves as both a mirror and a provocation, urging readers to confront the cost of progress and the shadows it casts. The chapbook’s range is vast—whether it’s the glitching skyline of "The Neon Gods Hum Softly", the stillness of "A Dusk Beneath the Sycamores", or the biting satire of "The Quiet Price", these poems oscillate between despair and defiance. With a voice that is at once razor-sharp and tender, the collection unflinchingly explores what it means to hunger, grieve, and remember in a world that commodifies even the most intimate corners of the self. A testament to resilience, it lingers unignorable, unsettling, and ultimately unforgettable. Ishani Ray is a queer South Asian writer and researcher based in the U.S. Her work explores themes of memory, longing, and digital alienation. Her poems often navigate the liminal spaces between technology and tenderness, survival and silence. She has a background in biomedical research, which often informs her creative lens. When not writing or working in the lab, she fosters kittens and obsesses over old libraries.