Read “Cruise Control, ” a New Poem by Eric Amling

The article introduces a new poem titled Cruise Control by Eric Amling, published on October 15, 2026, as part of his collection Wet Manual. The poem is presented by Jonny Diamond, Editor in Chief of Literary Hub, a digital platform dedicated to literature, culture, and the arts. The article provides a direct excerpt from the poem, which blends vivid, fragmented imagery with abstract and surreal themes. The poem’s language is dense and evocative, featuring phrases like ‘kinetic afterglow of firebombed galleries’ and ‘acne-colored smoke from the manifolds,’ which create a sense of motion, destruction, and emotional intensity. The article does not provide a full explanation of the poem’s meaning but instead offers it as a standalone piece for readers to interpret.

Cruise Control explores themes of control, chaos, and human existence through disjointed yet striking imagery. The poem references feedback, taxidermy, demolition derbies, and firebombed galleries, suggesting a world where nature, technology, and human emotion collide unpredictably. Terms like taxidermy (the preservation of animals for display) and demolition derbies (car competitions where drivers intentionally crash into each other) are used metaphorically to evoke a sense of artificiality and destruction. The poem also touches on serotonin stabilizers, which are medications used to regulate mood disorders, implying a connection between mental health and the poem’s chaotic imagery. The style is abstract, relying on juxtaposition and sensory details to create an immersive, if unsettling, experience.

Eric Amling is the author of Wet Manual, the collection from which Cruise Control is drawn. The article notes that Wet Manual is published by Blush, an independent literary press. The poem’s title, Cruise Control, may refer to the automotive feature that maintains a vehicle’s speed automatically, symbolizing a lack of agency or control in the poem’s themes. The collection’s title, Wet Manual, suggests a blend of fluidity and instruction, possibly hinting at themes of adaptation or guidance in chaotic environments. The article does not provide additional details about Amling’s background or other works, focusing solely on the poem’s publication.

The poem is published on Literary Hub (Lit Hub), a digital literary magazine launched in 2016 by Grove Atlantic and Electric Literature. Lit Hub aggregates book reviews, author interviews, and literary news, serving as a hub for readers and writers. The article includes a link to Wet Manual on Blush’s website and a brief biography of Jonny Diamond, the Editor in Chief of Literary Hub, who introduces the poem. The publication date is October 15, 2026, and the article is part of the Fiction and Poetry section of the website. No subscription or payment is required to read the poem, as it is freely accessible.