Beyond Words Literary Magazine, Issue 20, November 2021 by Beyond Words Literary Magazine

Beyond Words Issue 20 November 2021

A r tw or k : T h om as O scar M i l es

Bey on d W or d s ? I n ter n at i on al L i t er ar y M agazi n e I ssu e 20 , N ovem ber 20 21 Ed i tor : Gal Sl on i m

Cop y r i gh t © B ey on d W or d s Pu bl i sh i n g H ou se, B er l i n , Ger m an y

Fi r st p r i n ti n g, N ovem ber 20 21 I SBN 978- 3- 948977- 99- 3

A B i r t h d ay L i k e N o O t h er Cassan d r a H am i l ton O n th e f i r st h ou r of m y 28 th bi r th d ay, I cam e h om e at on e a.m . af ter w or k i n g over t i m e to f i n d m y an sw er i n g m ach i n e f u l l of cal l s, al l f r om m y n ew r et i n a sp eci al i st ?s of f i ce, each m essage gr ow i n g i n u r gen cy. T h e l ast , th e d oct or i n si sti n g I be i n h i s of f i ce at ei gh t ; I n eed ed su r ger y. Key s I ?d been cl u tch i n g cr ash ed t o t h e f l oor . * ?W h er e?ve y ou been !?? M om d em an d ed , cl asp i n g a tap est r y p u r se to h er Ven u s of W i l l en d or f f r am e, as I sep ar at ed f r om a cr ow d ex i ti n g an el evat or . ?I w as i n an acci d en t .?

I n th e w ai t i n g r oom , w e stood cr am m ed l i ke sar d i n es am i d st cr an k y sen i or ci t i zen s, w al ker s an d tw o m u scu l ar m en w ear i n g ey e p atch es. A n u r se r u sh ed to m e, ch ast i sed m e f or bei n g l ate, squ i r t ed d r op s i n m y ey es, sh oved a ti ssu e m y w ay an d d i sap p ear ed . A s I sn at ch ed th e ti ssu e f l oati n g to th e f l oor , a m an ap p ear ed besi d e m e. ?T h i s w ay, Cassan d r a.? I cou l d n ?t see a th i n g. M ed i ci n e r an d ow n m y ch i n . M om tu gged m y ar m . ?H e?s w ai ti n g!? I gr u m bl ed as sh e n av i gated m e d ow n a h al l . ?Can ?t I h ave a secon d to cl ean u p ?!? ?Sh !?

?W h at?!? ?At a l i gh t, I r ol l ed i n t o a car ." ?H u h .? Sh e ey ed p eop l e en ter i n g m y sp eci al i st ?s of f i ce. ?W e sh ou l d go i n .? Sh e h ead ed t o t h e op en of f i ce d oor . I gap ed . W hat was that? I f i n ger ed t h e n ot e w i t h th e ot h er car ?s i n su r an ce i n f or m ati on i n m y p ocket. Pi t i ed m y p l i gh t? u n ti l I saw M om i n t h e r ecep ti on l i n e h u ggi n g h er sel f , ch i n ju t ted . Rem em ber ed h er f r i en d ?s son h ad l aser su r ger y. L ost an ey ebal l .

A d oor cl i cked sh u t. * W e sat f or f i f teen m i n u tes, sober r ock s i n tw o h ar d bl ack W i n d sor ch ai r s w i t h gol d H ar v ar d em bl em s u n d er th e su r geon ?s of f i ci ou s f r am ed H ar var d d i p l om as. T h e r oom gr ew h ot . M y v i si on bl u r r ed . I r em oved m y gl asses. I r on i cal ly, I cou l d th en see th e ex am ch ai r acr oss f r om m e. I d eci d ed i t l ooked l i ke a set p i ece f r om St ar T r ek .

Soon af t er , m y w i r y I r i sh su r geon en ter ed , f i l e i n h an d . H i s m i d d l e- aged br u n et te assi stan t sh u t th e d oor . B ot h w or e w h i t e. H i m a coat ; h er p an t s an d jacket . H e sh ook ou r h an d s. ?B ef or e I d i scu ss t est r esu l t s,? h e tu gged h i s m ar oon bow ti e, ?I ?d l i ke an ot h er l ook at y ou r ey es.? H e p atted t h e Star T r ek ch ai r . I cl i m bed aboar d . H e sat on a w h eel ed r ou n d ch ai r , u sed h i s f eet to cr ab w al k t o m e w h i l e sl i p p i n g on som et h i n g l i ke a m i n or ?s h ead l i gh t . H e f i sh ed f r om his coat p ocket s a m agn i f y i n g gl ass an d a gr ey p l asti c bl ob t h at d u r i n g m y l ast v i si t I sai d l ooked l i ke a sh oeh or n . T h e assi stan t sn ap p ed of f r oom l i gh ts. He f l i p p ed on his h ead l i gh t . B l i n d ed , I gr u n t ed . H e i gn or ed m e. L i f t ed m y ey ebal l w i th th e sh oeh or n . ?L ook l ef t ? Ri gh t? U p ? ? T h e l i gh t bu r n ed . I f el t qu easy. H e ad ju sted t h e ch ai r so I l ay f l at. A gai n , h e l i f t ed m y ey ebal l , h ol d i n g t h e m agn i f i er so cl ose I cou l d sm el l h i s m i n ty br eath . ?L ook l ef t? Ri gh t ? ? M y ey es f el t l i ke bu r ger s on a gr i l l .

Fi n al ly, h e sat m e u p r i gh t. I sh u t m y ey es, w i l l i n g af ter gl ow an d n au sea to f ad e. T h e assi stan t p r essed ti ssu es i n t o m y h an d . ?B l ot . D on ?t w i p e.? I bl ott ed . H ear d som eon e m ove, f abr i c r u b f abr i c. Pen scr atch ed p ap er . M y stom ach cal m ed . I op en ed m y ey es, r ef ocu sed . T h e su r geon sl i p p ed f i l m s on to a l i gh tboar d . A n i m age of w h at l ooked l i ke th e su n w i th sn ak i n g r i ver s ap p ear ed . ?T h i s i s y ou r l ef t ey e.? H e sai d , ci r cl i n g ar eas w i th a p en . ?Fu n d u s. Vei n s. M acu l a.? H e tap p ed a cl u st er of w h i te sp ot s. ?T h ese ar e d ep i gm en tati on s (scar s). Su r r ou n d ed by n eov ascu l ar i zati on , (gr ow i n g vei n s) w i t h su br eti n al f l u i d (f l u i d u n d er r eti n a).? I joked , ?T h at?s a m ou t h f u l .? ?T h e f l u or escei n s ch an ge m y d i agn osi s.? H e h esi tated . ?I con su l ted w i th th e su r geon w h o w r ot e th e tex tbook al l sp eci al i sts stu d y i n or d er to becom e ey e su r geon s. H e d i agn osed th i s.? I gu l p ed .

A r tw or k : Kei t h Ed w ar d s

?T h er e?s a gr ou p of d i sor d er s cal l ed W h i te D ot Sy n d r om es. You r s i s Pr esu m ed O cu l ar H i st op l asm osi s. H i stop l asm osi s i s an i l l n ess th at seem s f l u - l i ke, bu t w h en l ef t u n tr eated l at er att ack s ot h er or gan s. I n y ou r case, ey es.? I bl i n ked , con f u sed by th e f or ei gn w or d s. M om m u r m u r ed , ?W h at d oes th i s m ean ?? ?T h i s d i sease i s r ar e. A bou t a h u n d r ed case st u d i es in the world.? H e sober ed . L ooked m e squ ar e i n t h e ey e. ?T h er e's n o k n ow n cu r e. You ?ll soon be l ow v i si on or bl i n d .?

secu r i ty. T h e su r geon i n jected a sh ot u n d er m y ey e. Peer ed i n t o a tel escop e f ocu sed on m y ey e. W ar n ed , ?D on 't m ove. You d on 't w an t m e to l aser y ou r f ace.? * T h e m ach i n e r at- tat- tat - ed as h e l aser ed a ci r cl e ar ou n d m y bl ack sp ot . Fi r ew or k s ex p l od ed i n m y h ead . D r agon f i r e scor ch ed m y ey ebal l . St ar s bu r st? m el t ed . Red w ep t . *

M om an d I f r oze i n sh ock . M y ear s r an g.

A f ter : Vel cr o p eel ed . H ead f r eed . T h e assi stan t w i p ed m y tear s. H an d ed m e ti ssu e.

H e ci r cl ed w h i t e sp ot s on th e f l u or escei n . ?W e n eed to d eal w i t h t h i s. Today. L aser su r ger y i s p er m an en t. I t ?ll d est r oy si gh t i n th e ar ea w e ad d r ess.?

I w i p ed tear s of f m y n eck , m y w et cl eav age. W i p ed m y good ey e. Gl an ced at th e su r geon . H i s h ead h ad v an i sh ed , r ep l aced by a bl ack d i sk .

?D estr oy !? M om p r ot est ed .

I tast ed bi l e. T h e p ar t of m e th at h op es l ef t f or th e m oon .

?I f w e l et t h e d i sease p r ogr ess, i t ?ll t ake al l v i si on i n t h e ey e.? M om sp u t t er ed . I f ou gh t tear s. ?T h e su r ger y will l eave a p en n y - si ze bl ack ar ea i n h er cen t r al v i si on . I 'm sor r y ; t h i s i s th e on ly av ai l abl e t r eatm en t.? H e r u bbed m y ch ar t . Cl osed i t . ?W e n eed to op er at e.? St ood . ?N ow.? * M i n u tes l at er , I sat i n a cl oset - si zed r oom as t h e assi st an t str ap p ed m y h ead i n to a m et al con t r ap ti on , th en l ean ed on t h e st r ap s f or ad d ed

* L eav i n g, M om m u r m u r ed , ?D o y ou h ave an y ad v i ce f or h er ?? T h e su r geon w i n ced . ?L ook . M y br oth er 's th e r el i gi ou s on e. Bu t ... w h en th er e's n oth i n g m ed i cal ly avai l abl e...? H e l ooked aw ay. ?Pr ay.? * W e w at ch ed th e el evat or d oor s cl ose u s i n . T h e car jer ked an d d escen d ed . M om gasp ed an d cl u t ch ed h er h ear t. ?I f or got! ? H ap p y Bi r th d ay !?

B i r t h D ay A n n a Svobod a I t ?s y ou r bi r t h d ay, bu t y ou ?r e sti l l

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A r tw or k : M ar l an a Ad el e Vassar

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Yo u r B i r t h d ay A n d i M y l es

A r tw or k : Er i k a Gi r ar d

H ow can I tel l y ou th at I d i d n ot l ove y ou t h e d ay y ou w er e bor n . T h at m y f i r st w or d to y ou w as w h y, M y ar m s str ap p ed d ow n , m y h ead a bal l oon th u m p i n g agai n st th e cei l i n g. H ow can I tel l y ou th at I d i d n ot l ove car r y i n g y ou . T h at y ou h i jacked an d i n v ad ed ever y cel l , l ock i n g d oor s on ce i n si d e a bu n d l e of ch aos an d p ai n . H ow can I tel l y ou th at I d i d n ot l ove y ou at n i gh t? ou r w or l d on ly t h e seam of cl oset l i gh t an d on e con f u sed bi r d . H ow can I tel l y ou th at I w at ch ed y ou r f ath er d ef l at e w i t h r el i ef w h en I f i n al ly n ot i ced m y l ove f or y ou w h i ch , l i ke m ost l ast i n g l ove, gr ew so sl ow ly cover ed i n d i r t, I over l ooked i t. W h en y ou ask abou t th e d ay y ou w er e bor n an d I f i n d I m u st tel l y ou th ese th i n gs, I w i l l al so tel l y ou t h at l ove i s th e sal t- sp eck l ed u sed car t h at got y ou th r ou gh on e l ast w i n t er ever y sh i f t a p r ay er w i t h cabl es i n th e back seat f or t h e bat ter y th at w on ?t h ol d a ch ar ge w h en y ou p l ay Ru ssi an Rou l ett e w i t h th e en gi n e cl u t ch w or n d ow n al m ost as f ar as th e t r ead s on th e ti r es y ou can ?t af f or d to r ep l ace so y ou d r i ve an ex tr a m i l e to avoi d t h e h i l l w i t h r ai l r oad tr ack s ju st i n case bu t y ou k n ow l i f e i s bett er w i t h i t th an w i th ou t becau se l ove i s bei n g gr atef u l f or y ou r ex i st en ce.

N est Ri v k a N om ber g

Goi n g f ly r al ; I col l ect w h at I n eed To d esi gn m y n est . L i n es, cu r ves, f l at, sp i r al ; A ssem bl e p r eam bl e, H op e ch est .

A p p ear an ces p y r al ; I ai m f or t h e sk y B ef or e I r est . A r abesqu e br an ch i n g, su scep ti bly f i r al ; A n t i ci p at i n g O v al gu est .

W i n d y an d gy r al ; A r ch i tectu r al ly Pu t to th e test . W i n ged , cl aw ed , am y gd y r al ; D ef en d i n g m y Fam i ly cr est .

N ai ve, d esi r al ; A ssem bl ed bu t Yet u n assessed . A i r l i n gs, l ess l u l l aby r al , Cel ebr at i n g Fu t u r e f est .

A r tw or k : M ax St ew ar t

A r tw or k : Svetl an a Gou ban ova

T h ese 39 l i n es ar e r i p p l es. Sm oke goi n g u p , u p , u p . I sh al l bu r n ou t too, l eav i n g ash an d bon e.

A f ath er cl ean s a W or l d W ar 2- Er a r i f l e, h i s d r i n k sw eat i n g on th e h ar d w ood k i tch en t abl e.

A skel etal w ol f si t s i n f r on t of a com p u ter , ask i n g w h er e? W h er e i s th e good i n th i s w or l d ?

th at w on ?t m ake i t to ou r f ath er ?

th at d i ssi p ates bef or e i t r each es th e f i n al cel esti al sp h er e, sm oke

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f r om y ou r al l eged n ever - en d i n g sp r i n gs. I am a w ol f ,

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A r ipple

an d say, D am n , n ow th at ?s p oetr y. I am w or r i ed abou t th e p oet s th at d r i n k .

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th en , su r r ou n d ed by a star v i n g p ack , each of u s h op i n g to f at h er

to qu i t sm ok i n g w h en h e r ead m y p oem al ou d i n w or k sh op . I w as on e w ol f

on th e w ater , th en gon e. M y p oetr y p r of essor tol d m e i t ?d be good

i n th e gl ass (Jurassic Park), easy en ou gh to m i ss i f y ou ar en ?t w at ch i n g cl ose, sm oke

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T o C at er i n a f r o m M o t h er Begon y a Pl aza- Rosen bl u th

Gestat i n g y ou r sw eet f em i n i n i ty w i t h m y ver y ow n r eci p e, I n a cau l d r on m i n gl i n g of p r ogen i tor s br ew i n g, To th e m el od i c ch an t s an d ly r i cs, I n vok i n g l ove, w i sd om , an d secu r i ty. H ow m y el at ed w om b sl ow ly p r ep ar es f or y ou r m i r acu l ou s d el i ver y. A s a m ot h er - t o- be, I r em em ber ed m y i m p r essi on abl e y ou th , W atch i n g on T V Sof i a L or en i n T w o W om en . A p er cep t i ve m oth er h u m or i n g h er d au gh ter , A m i d st a bat t l e- gr ou n d of h at i n g gu n m en . A bl essed l i f e m ad e of f l esh an d bl ood , I s th e i n si d e job of a tel l u r i c l ove, U n f u r l i n g l i ke a r ose bu d , To ex p r ess d eep si gn i f i can ce, W h en bi r t h i n g a eu r ek a m om en t of ex u ber an ce. Con cer n ed f or y ou r h u m an p ot en ti al i ty, an d , K n ow i n g m y beh av i or w ou l d exem p l i f y, V i r tu es an d v i ces t h at on e d ay y ou 'd p er son i f y, I i n sti l l ed a qu al i t y - l i f e of cr eati v i ty, For y ou t o ow n an d n ever be d en i ed . Bef or e y ou , m y Cater i n a, I ch ar m ed m y w ay th r ou gh , W i th a sw agger i n g d i sp l ay, O f d el u si on al f or t u n a. U n ti l r eal i t y act u al i zed m y sen se of sacr i f i ce, Red ef i n i n g l i f e i s h ow I w on th e u l ti m at e p r i ze. U n ti l em p ow er ed an d r ead y to sp r ead y ou r w i n gs, I sh i el d ed y ou w i t h f i er ce an i m al i n st i n cts, L i ke a r oar i n g l i on ess en su r i n g m y of f sp r i n g, To n ever be f or saken , Yet f or gi n g ah ead w i t h con v i cti on s u n sh aken .

You , Cat er i n a, ar e m y sav i or . I n y ou , I h on or ed m y d i v i n i t y. O ver cam e ad ver si ty. I n t h e sel f - d i scover y, I f aced m y f ear of f ai l u r e. You r i n n ocen t ey es r ef l ected , Con t r ast i n g t r u t h s, I n eed ed to r econ si d er , Bet w een p ow er gam es an d v i cti m h ood s, O r l et t i n g m y h ear t tu r n bi tter . I f I 'm st i l l ar ou n d an d ver y ol d , D on 't con f ou n d , l et m e sh am bl e w i t h a f r ow n . K n ow t h at I 'm st an d i n g on sh ak y gr ou n d , N eed i n g y ou t o h ol d , an d h ear f r om , H ear t of gol d . W h at ever y ou d o, w an t i n g to m ake m y d ay, D on 't over - p r otect m e by tak i n g aw ay, Resp on si bi l i t i es m ai n t ai n i n g m y d i gn i ty, Fr eed om s f or m ov i n g abou t i n n atu r e's i n tegr i ty. A n d p eop l e of con sci en ti ou s f el l ow sh i p i n am i ty. I k n ow y ou r h ear t , an d gen er osi t y, So n ever f eel obl i gated to m e. H op ef u l ly, w i t h B obby tou ch i n g toes, I 'l l be ju st d an d y. T r an scen d w h at I cou l d n ot be or d o. I f y ou f ol l ow y ou r h ear t, N ei t h er ci r cu m stan ce n or an y on e w i l l d ef i n e y ou . Recogn i ze y ou r ow n u n i qu e v al u e. Som e w i l l f eel i n sp i r ed , O th er s w i l l ju d ge, f i l l ed of p er n i ci ou s r esi d u e. L i f e i s a p r eci ou s gi f t, Fem i n i n i t y h as en er get i c p ow er . Su r r en d er t o t h e gr ace of w h o y ou ar e, A n d w i t h ever y sh ap i n g sh i f t , L i f t sp i r i t s n ear an d f ar .

A r tw or k : N aom i H ar t

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Su r p r i se S.E. Joak i m T h e su r p r i se p ar t y w as n ot su r p r i si n g, at l east n ot f or m e. M ar r i ed n ow f or f i ve y ear s, y ou w ou l d th i n k h e cou l d r em em ber m y bi r th d ay. T h e f i r st y ear , I sat al on e at t h e r estau r an t f or an h ou r bef or e or d er i n g f ood . W h i l e I w as eat i n g, cam e th e tex t : ?w h er e ar e y ou ??. I t h as been l i ke th at ever y y ear si n ce. W h en h e w al ked th r ou gh th e d oor ear l i er tod ay, h e seem ed su r p r i sed . I h an d ed h i m h i s gi f t. T h e d i vor ce p ap er s w er e w r ap p ed u p n i cely, w i t h a p en at tach ed . ?A l l y ou h ave to d o i s si gn ,? I sai d , ?i t?s y ou r bi r t h d ay gi f t to m e.?

Su r p r i se, Su r p r i se Jen n i f er Sh n ei d er m an Gr an d m a M abel w as d eaf . O r so h e th ou gh t. So h e sh ou ted . Sh e l ear n ed n ot t o t u r n h er h ead or bl i n k . Si t ti n g i n h er l i t tl e ch ai r i n a cor n er of t h e k i t ch en , Gr an d m a M abel becam e p r i v y to h er gr an d son ?s p l an s to st eal w h at l i t t l e sh e h ad . T h e su r p r i se p ar ty w asn ?t su r p r i si n g. A l l of th e u su al f am i ly con sp i r at or s h el p ed h er bl ow ou t th e bi r th d ay can d l es. T h e p assp or t, car key s an d ban k r ou ti n g n u m ber s, al l sew n i n to h er f r ay ed ap r on , w ou l d be su r p r i se en ou gh ? w h en th ey cam e u p m i ssi n g. H er l aw y er w ou l d p i ck h er u p at d aw n an d take car e of th e r est.

N o t Su r p r i si n g K J H an n ah Gr een ber g T h e ?su r p r i se p ar t y ? w as n ot su r p r i si n g. A f ter al l , sh e h ad gi ven th ei r el d est ch i l d t h e gu est l i st an d h ad m ad e n otes abou t d esi r ed r ef r esh m en ts. W h en h e k n ocked on h er of f i ce d oor to an n ou n ce h er v i si tor s, sh e f ei gn ed bu si n ess w i t h a d ocu m en t. H e h ad to p r of f er m an y w or d s to get h er to l eave h er com p u t er . T h e gu n , h ow ever , w as an am azem en t . U su al ly, m u r d er i s com m i tted w i th ou t w i t n esses p r esen t . H i s w as a cl osed casket.

Onecandlewas missing.... a 100- word creativewriting challenge

N o t A l l t h e Year s ar e K i n d Roy al Bay si n ger O n e can d l e w as m i ssi n g. Ever y on e el se w as obl i v i ou s as t h ey d r on ed H ap p y B i r t h d ay. W h at y ear w ou l d sh e d o w i t h ou t ? T h e y ear Bi l l ch eat ed on h er ? T h e y ear D ad l ost h i s bat t l e agai n st can cer ? T h e y ear sh e br oke h er h i p i n t h e acci d en t ? Bu t th en sh e w ou l d n ?t h ave got t en t o k n ow D ad so w el l i n t h ose f i n al m on t h s. I f Bi l l h ad n ?t ch eat ed , sh e w ou l d n ?t h ave l ef t h i m ; t h at m ean t n o Tom , an d n o L u cy. A n d h er r ecover y i s w h en sh e f i n al ly st ar t ed t o p ai n t . T h e son g w as d on e. Sh e bl ew ou t th e can d l es. T h en str u ck a m at ch , an d l i t on e m or e.

O n e M i ssi n g C an d l e M acken zi e T r ead w ay N oth i n g m or e sp eci al th an r each i n g 10 . D ou bl e d i gi ts! M y m om i s w ai t i n g by t h e d oor ; h er ey es ar e r ed l i ke sh e?s been cr y i n g. D ad i s st an d i n g on t h e p or ch gr i p p i n g th e ban i ster f or w h at seem s l i ke d ear l i f e. M u st?ve been som eth i n g goi n g on . I can see m y cake! B l u e an d gr een - m y f avor i te col or s, bu t i t l ook s l i ke m y m om bou gh t i t f r om t h e st or e. W ei r d , sh e alw ay s bakes th em h er sel f . N ever m i n d , tod ay i s m y d ay ! I y el l f or m om an d d ad , bu t n o on e gr eets m e. I cou n t n i n e can d l es, bu t w asn 't I su p p osed to tu r n ten tod ay ?

A r tw or k : L i sa Can t w el l

100- word challenge- continued...

T i m e's Pr i ce Gi an n a D al ey O n e can d l e w as m i ssi n g. I t h ad to be. Sh e tol d m e sh e got m or e y ear s f or th e p r i ce of l ess an d I on ly th ou gh t abou t th e baker y. A tr eacly, sw eet y el l ow bu i l d i n g th at sol d i t s bi r t h d ay cakes an d f u n er al cakes at t h e sam e p r i ce. N o. Sh e h ad m ean t T i m e. I m u tter ed som et h i n g abou t w h ol e- sal e p r i ces an d bu y i n g can d l es i n bu l k . N ot qu i te bel i ev i n g h er . N ot d ar i n g to. W e h ad been i n a d ar k k i tch en to em p h asi se th e l i gh t. Even th en I cou l d see t h at i n f r on t of m e w as a w om an w h o w as h i d i n g f r om t i m e. H er ey es w er e m i n e.

A r tw or k : D on al d Gu ad agn i

N o t t h e Sam e D ar en Sch u ettp el z A ch i l d h ood of p ar en tal ly f or ced sam en ess l ed m y tw i n an d I to p ai n t th e w or l d w i t h ou r d i f f er en ces. I d ated m en an d h e m ar r i ed a w om an . H e l i ved i n th e su bu r bs w h i l e I m oved over seas. W e m ad e a p oi n t t o n ever d r ess ?t w i n i ly ? i n p h ot ogr ap h s. Cal l i t n ostal gi a, or a r el u ct an ce t o com p l et ely d en y ou r sh ar ed em br y on i c or i gi n stor y, bu t w e st ar t ed a tr ad i t i on of m eeti n g i n - p er son on ou r bi r th d ay, sh ar i n g a cake w i t h tw o can d l es, an d bl ow i n g th em ou t i n u n i son . M y u n v acci n at ed br oth er d i ed l ast M ay. Yester d ay w as ou r bi r th d ay an d on e can d l e w as m i ssi n g f r om ou r cake.

A r tw or k : Br u ce M agn ott i

A r tw or k : A l ex A l ex an d r e

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goi n g t o h ap p en to m e n ex t . L i t tl e cl i p p i n gs, i n ser ted i n th e ti ssu e

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an n i ver sar y of h er d eath , a r obi n cr ash ed i n t o ou r p at i o w i n d ow. U n f azed , th e bi r d l i n ger ed on a br an ch an d th en m oved to th e r ai l i n g of ou r d eck . I t w ai t ed u n ti l i t w as d u ly n oti ced . T h at m i gh t h ave been a coi n ci d en ce, bu t th e f ol l ow i n g y ear , an d f or tw o y ear s af t er th at, on th e sam e d at e, a

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T h e Pl ay i s t h e T h i n g Cat h y H ol l i st er I t w as m y bi r th d ay - a d ay i n t h at ver n al n o m an ?s l an d t h at t h e cal en d ar cal l s M ar ch . T h e an n u al op en i n g n i gh t p l ay i n g t o an au d i en ce of cr u st y sn ow, w ar m br eezes car r y i n g t h e scen t of r oad t r i p s an d l i gh t en i n g bu gs, d ead l eaves l ef t over f r om l ast y ear ?s l ast h u r r ah . A n oth er y ear of d r eam s an d d i sap p oi n t m en t s sp r aw l ed ou t bef or e m y p ai n t ed t oes. Scr ap p y l aw n s w i th ju st en ou gh gr een gu m p t i on t o sel l m e a n oti on of l u sh bar ef oot d ay s. M u d d y gar d en y et t o be seed ed br i n gs v i si on s of r i p e t om at oes bu r st i n g on t h e v i n e r ead y to m ar r y th e sp i cy basi l i n a w ed d i n g f east of cap r ese. A M ar ch bi r th d ay f i l l s i t s l u n gs an d si n gs, gr een beer i s al l th e h ol i d ay t h at I n eed . Fi r ew or k s of r ed bu d s an d p u r p l e cr ocu ses, p ar ad es of sw al l ow s an d w ar bl er s, gi v i n g th an k s f or r i si n g t em p s an d t een sy bu d s, an d gi f ts of tr ee f r ogs, t ad p ol es, an d t or n ad oes. A l i f e th at begi n s i n M ar ch n ever l ook s back t o t h e col d , t h e d r ear y n i gh ts h u d d l ed by a cozy f i r e. A l i f e th at begi n s i n M ar ch t ast es w i l d m or el s an d gr een p ea sh oot s, f i l l s i n ter val s w i th bu bbly w i n e, an d ap p l au d s str eam er s of st r at u s w h i t e st r eak s i n sp r i n gt i m e sk i es u p to th e f i n al bow.

A r tw or k : N i jol e Rasm u ssen

D i v i n e D esi r e D i an al ee Vel i e to Joe Velie, August 16, 1944 to February 8, 1985

I cel ebr at ed y ou r bi r t h d ay tod ay, str etch i n g ou t u p on ou r bed , t h e p r i st i n e w h i t e ey el et sp r ead t au gh t an d t u cked n eat ly ben eath m y bod y.

W ar m br eezes bi l l ow ed sh eer w h i t e cu r t ai n s, y ou r p r esen ce su r r ou n d i n g m y em p t i n ess, i gn or i n g t h e sep ar at i n g vei l .

Fi l l ed w i t h n ost al gi c d esi r e, y ou ar ose f r om t h e d ead sh ock i n g m e w i t h gen t l e str okes of n i gh t ai r scen ted by l i l i es of t h e v al l ey.

L ater , sat i at ed , y ou r bou qu et sti l l l i n ger i n g, I st u d y t h e ascen d i n g bl u e f l am e of th e f l i cker i n g f l or al can d l e, m ake a w i sh an d bl ow ;

t h e sam e w i sh , y ear af t er y ear , t h at y ou m ay com e agai n .

A r tw or k : M Ry an

A n n i h i l at i o n f o r B egi n n er s Ch ar l i e J. Step h en s M y f i r st d ay of bei n g f ou r t een cam e w i t h a k n ock at th e d oor to ou r t h i r d f l oor ap ar t m en t . I t w as D ou gl as, t h e ei gh t - y ear - ol d boy f r om d ow n t h e h al l . Ever y ti m e I saw h i m , m y f i r st th ou gh t w as alw ay s t o w on d er w h o w ou l d n am e a n ew bor n baby, i n n ocen t to th e w or l d , a n am e l i ke D ouglas. Peop l e sh ou l d k n ow n ever to n am e a ch i l d an y t h i n g t h at r em ot ely sou n d s l i ke or r h y m es w i t h ass. I t ?ll be over f or th em bef or e t h ey even get star t ed . I t w as l at e i n t h e m or n i n g an d h e w as st i l l i n p ajam as, h i s h ai r bu n ch ed u p i n a tan gl ed cow l i ck . ?H ap p y bi r t h d ay, Joe,? h e sai d , h an d i n g m e a l u m p y p r esen t. ?H ow ?d y ou k n ow bi r t h d ay ?? I asked .

w as

?I h ear d y ou r m om tel l i n g m y m om y ou w er e gr ow i n g u p too f ast, bu t al so t h at sh e w as l ook i n g f or w ar d t o em p t y n est sy n d r om e.? I th i n k h e w an t ed m e to ex p l ai n w h at em p t y n est sy n d r om e w as, bu t I d i d n ?t w an t to. D ou gl as h ad been abou t f i ve y ear s ol d w h en m y m om an d I m oved

i n to th i s bu i l d i n g. Even th en , w h en h e w as u n f ath om ably ti n y, I got th e d i sti n ct f eel i n g h e w as goi n g to gr ow u p to be gay. B esi d es p r an ci n g on h i s ti p p y toes, h e ju st h ad th i s beau ti f u l f ace. T h e f ace, I th ou gh t, of a f u tu r e h om osex u al . H i s m om w as f r i en d ly bu t d i stan t, an d d i d n ?t seem l i ke th e ty p e to stan d u p to a ty r an t . H i s f ath er w as i n f am ou s f or h i s str on g op i n i on s th at h ad al i en ated al m ost ever y on e on ou r f l oor . I d i d n ?t k n ow w h at th i s f or etol d f or D ou gl as. ?W al k f l at ter !? an d , ?Pu t y ou r f u ck i n g h eel s d ow n , god d am m i t !? cou l d of ten be h ear d i n th e h al lw ay. D ear Reader, this is the first thing to do. D on?t think of Joe or D ouglas, think of yourself. Feel the slightest bit of vulnerability and stuff it down, use some witty humor to outrun it if only for a minute longer. T ie a rubber band around your wrist and snap it hard, every time you have a feeling you don?t like. D on?t let yourself grow calloused: move the rubber band around so there?s always a fresh sting.

I n th e h al lw ay, i t l ooked as i f D ou gl as h ad gi ven u p on th e goal s set f or h i m by h i s f at h er . H e bou n ced u p an d d ow n , h eel s d i sti n ctly al of t . I n h i s l i tt l e- k i d w ay, h e su d d en ly h ad to go, an d I w atch ed h i m bou n d d ow n th e h al lw ay i n a su gar - cer eal tr ot . H e?d u sed m ask i n g t ap e to af f i x a scr aw l ed n ot e t o t h e gi f t .

M om cal l ed ar ou n d f i ve, w h en sh e u su al ly got of f w or k . Sh e w as a n u r se at th e ci t y h osp i tal , th e on e ever y on e tr i ed to avoi d . O n ce, on a take- y ou r - ch i l d to w or k d ay, M om an d I l ooked d ow n th e em p ty h al lw ay to see a bl ood - soaked r ag th at h ad f al l en of f som eon e?s gu r n ey, or f r om a bi oh azar d car t .

?To Joe. For y ou t o com e p l ay ?T h e A n n i h i l at or ? w i t h m e A N YT I M E.? H e h ad gi ven m e a v i d eo gam e con tr ol l er , bl ack an d sti ck y w i t h f i n ger sm u d ges. St r aw ber r y jam .

?W el l , th at ju st abou t su m s i t u p , d oesn ?t i t ?? sh e asked m e.

I cou l d n ?t i m agi n e w an t i n g to go t o h i s ap ar t m en t , bu t f el t bett er t h an I h ad i n aw h i l e. For m y bi r th d ay I alw ay s w en t ou t to eat w i th m y m om . T h er e w as th i s gr eat d i n er cal l ed Sp ar k y ?s th at ser ved br eak f ast f or d i n n er . I l i ked t h e f r en ch t oast . Sh e al ter n at ed betw een a sp i n ach om el ette or p oach ed eggs an d h ash br ow n s. T his is the second step. Allow yourself to have the most basic expectations of family and friends, and (spoiler alert) be simultaneously crushed and vindicated when they let you down. T hink of all the ways people have disappointed you and then turn all the possibilities on yourself. Start really believing you are unworthy of any sort of dependable love. Begin the process of letting go of the possibility of it existing for anyone, least of all for you.

W e bu r st ou t l au gh i n g, i n th at w ay th at som eti m es h ap p en s w h en f aced w i t h a ter r i bl e absu r d i t y. T h i s i s w h at I w as th i n k i n g abou t on th e p h on e as M om l et m e k n ow th r ee am bu l an ces h ad ar r i ved , an d th e h osp i t al w as sh or t- staf f ed . O n e of th e p ati en ts w as a k i d D ou gl as?s age w i t h a p ar i n g k n i f e th r ou gh h i s ey e. ?I can ?t l eave an y ti m e soon . I ?m sor r y abou t th e bi r th d ay d i n n er . I ?ll m ake i t u p to y ou .? ?I u n d er st an d , i t?s ok ay,? I tol d h er , star i n g at th e w al l . I l ooked over at D ou gl as?s n ote abou t p l ay i n g ?T h e A n n i h i l ator .? M ay be h e w as l on ely an d I cou l d sp en d m y bi r th d ay d oi n g a good d eed , m ak i n g h i m f eel l i ke h e h ad a f r i en d : som eon e w h o w ou l d n ?t m en t i on h ow h e w al ked on ti p p y toes, som eon e w h o cou l d ju st l et h i m be.

A r tw or k : Ram on a Gal ar d i

And now, the final step. Embrace any strand of disproportionate self- regard you can muster in order to engage with the world. T ry to use it for good, even as you are projecting your own fears and anxieties onto others. Place yourself at the top and be a benevolent force towards those lower than you on the social hierarchy, even though somewhere deep down you sense that you are the lowest of the low. T he trick is to practice believing the lies you tell yourself until you?ve arrived at perfection, which in this case is complete disillusionment. I h ead ed t o D ou gl as?s ap ar tm en t. W h en I k n ocked , D ou gl as an sw er ed t h e d oor i m m ed i ately, l i ke h e?d been w ai t i n g, l i sten i n g

f or th e sou n d of m y k n u ck l es on th e p eel i n g f r am e. I f ol l ow ed h i m to h i s r oom w h er e th e gam e w as al r ead y set u p . I p l u gged i n m y con tr ol l er . D ou gl as d i d n ?t say m u ch , bou n ci n g on h i s bed w i th exci tem en t, th ou gh I cou l d tel l h e w as tr y i n g t o p l ay i t cool . ?So, w h at ?s th e gam e?? I asked .

p oi n t

th i s

H e w as su d d en ly ver y sti l l . ?Tot al d estr u cti on ,? h e sai d . I w on d er ed h ow I h ad n ?t seen i t. W e cou l d d estr oy ou r selves toget h er . W e sat n ex t to each oth er w i th th e con tr ol l er s in ou r h an d s, w on d er i n g i n ou r sh ar ed si l en ce, f or w h at f el t l i ke a ver y l on g ti m e.

A r tw or k : Ch r i stop h er Br u n o

H ap p y B i r t h d ay Em i ly Ben son You ar e a t r ee. N o, h ear m e ou t : Cr eated of ear t h an d w at er A l ch em y of l i gh t an d gr een You r m ot h er ?s t en aci ty, A r ti st?s ey es an d h an d s Bar k , t o be su r e, f r om y ou r f at h er ?s si d e You r each t ow ar d t h e su n You u n f u r l Ever y y ear y ou gr ow a r i n g I can h ear t h em r i n gi n g You ar e r oot ed A l on gsi d e t h e eu caly p t u s A n d th e oak s y ou on ce l eap t over Gol d en gr asses gat h er by y ou r f eet A n d y ou r br an ch es cal l to f al l en bi r d s To f aw n s bor n i n t o t h e f er n s f r om d eat h L i f e ci r cl i n g, r en ew i n g W i th sh ar p m i l k t eet h A n d th e sof t n ess of Gr ace O cean s sw el l , st or m - tossed , A n d y ou of f er y ou r sel f as ti m ber To bu i l d a cor acl e Su p p l e an d st r on g You sh el t er You ben d You sw ay w i t h t h e w i n d s th at sh ake u s A n d th r ou gh i t al l T h er e r u n s a st r ai n O f i n f i n i t esi m al sw eet n ess I n ef f abl e beau t y T h e d ep t h s of st on e an d soi l T h e h ei gh t of a l i gh t too br i gh t to l ook at A i r too col d an d cl ean to h ol d Excep t i n h ear t w ood Reson an ce f r om w i t h i n y ou r bol e Setti n g u s al l h u m m i n g You r w ar m an d w i l d r ef r ai n

A r tw or k : K at h r i n e Cay s

A tw i n w i th ou t a tw i n Jan e Pal m er I am f i l l i n g ou t p ap er w or k at a d oct or ?s of f i ce. H ow m an y l i ve bi r t h s h ave y ou h ad ? 2. H ow m an y ch i l d r en d o y ou h ave? 1. I am p l ay i n g w i t h m y son . H e h as tw o m at ch box car s, tw o stu f f ed an i m al cats, t w o stu f f ed an i m al bu n n i es, tw o of ever y t h i n g, on e i n each h an d , alw ay s. I am w i t h h i m at t h e p l ay gr ou n d . H e w an t s m e t o go w i t h h i m d ow n th e d ou bl e sl i d e, h ol d i n g h i s h an d , si d e- by - si d e, w e say ?1- 2- 3-W h ee!? I am at th e p ar t y st or e, bu y i n g p r ov i si on s f or h i s 2 n d bi r th d ay. I bu y tw o bi g H ap p y Bi r th d ay bal l oon s, on e f or each ch i l d . I am d ay d r eam i n g abou t cr eati n g a ser i es of sm al l p ai n ti n gs. I n on e, Gu s i s on a see saw w i t h th e ot h er si d e em p ty. I n an oth er , h e i s p l ay i n g a boar d gam e by h i m sel f . I n a th i r d , h e i s p l ay i n g catch al on e. I d on ?t p ai n t . A n d h e i s n ot al on e. W e br i n g t h e secon d bal l oon to th e tr ee w e p l an ted f or M ax . W e ti e i t t o a br an ch . W e take a f am i ly p h oto an d eat cu p cakes. W e ar e n ot al on e. Gr i ef an d joy co- ex i st i n ou r l i tt l e f am i ly, i n a beau t i f u l d an ce. Gu s an d M ax ?s t r ee w i l l gr ow u p toget h er an d w e h ave t h i s p r i v at e p l ace i n th e w ood s to go t o d an ce an d cr y an d p l ay. W e l eave a m at ch box car f or M ax an d say, ?see y ou soon , tr ee. W e l ove y ou .?

A r tw or k : L i sa W r i gh t

O n t h e o ccasi o n o f m y h u sb an d 's 4 0 t h b i r t h d ay K i n d r a M cD on al d I su d d en ly r eal i ze I ?m cl ean i n g l i ke I ?ve h ad n o on e i n t h e h ou se f or si x m on t h s becau se I h ave h ad n o on e i n t h e h ou se f or si x m on t h s, so I m ove t h e p ar t y ou t si d e tam i n g th e w eed s, cu r si n g t h e m ow er an d cu t t i n g l i m bs u n t i l t h e can op y op en s becau se th i s y ear h as been w or r y an d w r on g, can cel an d com p r om i se becau se si n gi n g H ap p y Bi r t h d ay i s w h at w e d o w h en w e w ash h an d s on t h i s d ay I w i l l th e h u r r i can e of f sh or e, d ay s of r ai n p au se f or y ou , m y d ear . T h e cl ou d s sai l n ex t d oor , a su n d og I sw ear , i s r i gh t over th e h ou se, l i sten even t h e d oves coo t h ei r ap p r ov al an d y ou r d i vor ced p ar en t s ar e ci v i l an d m y m om m akes sm al l tal k an d n o on e m en ti on s p ol i t i cs. You r si st er s t ease y ou , cal l y ou H iss th e n i ck n am e y ou d on ?t f i t . T h er e m u st be som et h i n g sw eet , on e can d l e at l east , th er e m u st be th e son g an d t h e gi f t m ad e by h an d , w e can h ave i t th e gl ass gl obe w i l l settl e ar ou n d u s l i ke a cl och e, t h e bl ow n l eaves ar e con f etti th at sw i r l w h en w e?r e sh aken , an d i n t h i s en cl osed m om en t saf e an d ster i l e, w e can f or get abou t t h e p eop l e w h o ar en ?t h er e f or ju st an i n stan t bef or e t h e f l am e i s bl ow n ou t , w e ar e n or m al .

A r tw or k : Bar bar a M ar t i n

N o , I h av en 't t ex t ed A d am b ack M atth ew Var go h e bou gh t m e a d esk over Ch r i stm as f or w h en I com e ar ou n d tow n an d w e bot h w or k an d p r et en d th i s w i l l m ake sen se l ater h e w ou l d l i ke t o see m e, h e say s an d m or e t h an on ce a m on t h h i s f r i en d s h ave n ot ed h ow m u ch h ap p i er h e i s y ester d ay, on m y bi r t h d ay w e tal ked f or f ou r h ou r s m y si st er sen t a bou qu et i n r ai n bow I h ave m oved m y d esk to th e en tr y I am a com p u t er a l am p a p l an t i n t h e en t r y th en , D m i t r a m ad e a str aw ber r y cake an d l at er , I l ear n ed B r y an 's h ad p r e- can cer ou s p oly p s r em oved

h e sai d , I told no one Except one friend, an d I th ou gh t abou t h ow m e, too w ou l d t el l n o on e, d eter m i n ed to su f f er al on e t o squ i r r el m y sel f aw ay i n f r on t of m y gi f ts an d stor i es I t h ou gh t abou t h ow p ar en t s th i n k t h ei r p ar en ts ar e str on ger th an th ey an d h ow I w i l l tel l th e sam e t y p es of stor i es m y t eam at w or k sen t m e a l eath er cam er a str ap w i t h m y i n i ti al s bu r n ed i n I becam e su d d en ly p er m an en t I sm oked w h i l e m u ted on th e tel ep h on e som eon e gave m e a St ar bu ck s gi f t car d . som et i m es I h oar d p oem s u n t i l I r em em ber ever y on e i s a p r om i se. T h i s d ay m u st be som eth i n g si m i l ar

A r tw or k : Br u gm an Tod d

A r tw or k : L ou Stor ey

O m ar K ay al

H ap p y B i r t h d ay, C ap t ai n T u esd ay

1. I t w as a d ay l i ke an y ot h er f or Cap t ai n T u esd ay, D eser t Ci ty ?s sp l en d i d d ef en d er , excep t th at i t w asn ?t ju st an y ot h er d ay. Yes, CT w oke t o th e r i n gi n g of h i s ?Cou r ageou s M r . Sh ar p? cl ock at p r eci sely 7:0 3. H ow ever , h e u su al ly tap p ed t h e cl ock w i t h i n th e f i r st f ew secon d s of i t s bl ar es. Tod ay, i n st ead , h e l ooked at i t a l i tt l e l on ger - t h i s m er ch an d i se totem of h i s d eceased m en tor . H e l ooked at i t a t ou ch som br e. Yes, he d r an k his str on g, stop - a-T y p i cal ?s- h ear t bl ack cof f ee, w i th i t s 50 0 0 m g of caf f ei n e. H ow ever , h e d i d n ?t d ow n i t i n f ou r qu i ck & d et er m i n ed gu l p s. A n d th en af t er w ar d s, h e d i d n ot r i n se i t ou t , an d even f ai l ed to p u t i t i n th e ap p r op r i at e sp ot i n h i s tr ad em ar k ?Bol d M r s. Pu n ch ? d i sh w ash er . Yes, he p l ay ed h i s r ou ti n e 20 - m i n u tes of Gam eStat i on 6?s sti l l - u n r el eased ?Cap t ai n T u esd ay 3: T h e St or m y Reven ge of D r . Cl ou d ?, bu t h e p l ay ed w i t h ou t r esolve, an d h e d i d n ot sm i l e or ch u ck l e at seei n g th e ai r bei n g su cked ou t of D r . Cl ou d , as h i s CG CT - sel f d eal t a sw i f t u p p er cu t to D r . Cl ou d ?s beer bel ly. Fi n al ly, h e d i d n ot st op t o en joy, y et agai n , th e f act t h at t h e gam e d esi gn er s m ad e su r e t o i n cl u d e th at p ar t i cu l ar d etai l of h i s r eal - l i f e n em esi s.

?W h at?s u p , CT ??, a su d d en voi ce sai d . Cap t ai n T u esd ay tu r n ed an d f l u n g th e Gam eSt ati on con tr ol l er l i ke a sh u r i ken so f ast th at i t sh atter ed agai n st th e w al l beh i n d Pr of essor Toaster bef or e th e h er o?s h ou sem at e cou l d even bl i n k . I t w as on ly u n ti l a m om en t l ater th at a sm al l cu t ap p ear ed on Pr of essor Toaster ?s ch eek . ?Good m or n i n g to y ou too, CT .? Pr of essor Toast er sai d w i th a w eak , sar cast i c sm i l e, as h e d abbed h i s ch eek w i th toast. ?You seem ... ex tr a- sp i cy, tod ay.? ?A h , i t?s n oth i n g y ou ?ll w an t to w or r y abou t, PT ,? sai d Cap tai n T u esd ay. Pr of essor Toast er stu d i ed h i s r oom i e f or a m om en t. ?Good ,? sai d Pr of essor Toast er . ?I d on ?t h ave ti m e to w or r y abou t an y th i n g oth er th an : (1) sav i n g Sci en ce Tow n f r om th e f l am i n go- ar m ad i l l o ou tbr eak , (2) h el p i n g cl ean u p th e i ce cr eam sp i l l i n Food Tow n , w el l , cream sp i l l I gu ess n ow, an d (3)... u m m ... sh oot, w h at am I f or get ti n g?? Pr of essor Toaster r em oved th e toast f r om h i s cu t ch eek , an d r eveal ed sm oot h , u n bl em i sh ed sk i n . He th en p r oceed ed to p u t th e sl i gh tly bl ood i ed toast i n h i s sh ou l d er , w h i ch seem ed to d ou bl e as a f u n cti on i n g toaster .

Cap tai n T u esd ay l ooked at th e h eal ed ch eek a l i t t l e r ep u l sed , an d t h en p oi n t ed t o a w h i teboar d th ey h ad i n t h e l i v i n g r oom . I t w as p ar ked n ear a sm al l , t al l tabl e w i t h a bi g, gr een , v i n t age d i al p h on e. ?A h ,? sai d Pr of essor Toaster . ?Ri gh t... Got i t . W el l , I ?ll be of f t h en .? A s Pr of essor Toast er d aw n ed t h e m ask ever y on e w ear s to h i d e t h ei r secr et i d en t i t y, th e toast p op p ed ou t of h i s sh ou l d er . H e t ook a bi g cr u n ch ou t of i t . Cap t ai n T u esd ay h el d back an u r ge to n ar f . ?See y ou , CT !? I n h i s sh oes m ad e f r om h i s Ex tr a- D u r abl e Fl ex i -Toast, an d w i th f oot f al l s of p u r e si l en ce, Pr of essor Toast er jogged f r om th e l i v i n g r oom , i n t o t h e h al lw ay, ou t t h e m ai n d oor . SL A M . ?H ap p y B i r t h d ay, CT ,? Cap t ai n T u esd ay m u t t er ed t o h i m sel f as h e sw ep t u p t h e p i eces of th e br oken con tr ol l er . ?W h at ar e y ou , 85 n ow ?? H e ch u ck l ed .

A r tw or k : M ar cel l a Si m on

T h e f r on t d oor op en ed agai n . ?I al m ost f or got,? sai d Pr of essor Toaster f r om th e d oor w ay, voi ce r ai sed . Cap tai n T u esd ay p er ked u p a l i tt l e at th i s. ?Cou l d y ou get u s som e n or m al cof f ee i f y ou h ave ti m e tod ay ?? Pr of essor Toast er asked . ?W e?r e ou t an d I ?m si ck of d i l u t i n g an esp r esso sh ot of y ou r cof f ee i n to 20 d i f f er en t cu p s ju st so I can h ave on e.? Cap tai n T u esd ay sh r an k back to h i s sad sel f . At th e f r on t d oor , Pr of essor Toaster becam e i m p at i en t. ?CT ?? H e asked . ?Yeah !? Cap tai n T u esd ay ?s voi ce cam e. ?I ?ll get y ou y ou r T y p i cal ?s cof f ee.? ?T h an k s, CT ! You ?r e th e best!? A s th e f r on t d oor sh u t, Cap tai n T u esd ay h over ed over a f ew p i eces of th e con tr ol l er i n a squ at . H e si gh ed .

2. ?H y ah h y ah h y ah !? D r. Cl ou d gu f f aw ed w i t h h i s si ck l au gh . H e gazed ou t of t h e w i n d ow of h i s p en t h ou se d en t i str y cl i n i c, on t o th e sp r aw l i n g D eser t Ci ty m et r op ol i s. ?W e h ave su ccessf u l ly r em oved y ou r n u m ber 3 m ax i l l ar y & n u m ber 17 m an d i bu l ar m ol ar s, M r s. O w en s, h y ah h y ah h y ah !? M r s. O w en s, a sw eet m i d d l e- aged w om an w i t h a r ou n d , sm i l i n g f ace, w as abou t t o sp eak , w h en ?At n o cost t o y ou ,? D r . Cl ou d sai d , as h e t ap p ed t h e l ou d & d i st r acti n g su ct i on t u be, ?becau se we m ar vel ou sly w on th e l egal case agai n st t h e bon eh ead bu t ch er w h o sol d y ou t h at ex tr a ch ew y steak m eat an d d i d n ?t con si d er y ou r d en t i ger ou s n eed s.? T h en , w h i l e r ai si n g t h e t u be i n v i ctor y, h e l au gh ed on ce agai n , ?H y ah h y ah h y ah !? ?T h an k y ou D r . Cl o- ? M r s. O w en s star t ed . ?H y eh h y eh h y eh ,? D r. Cl ou d i n ter r u p t ed h er w i t h a r esi d u al sn i cker . ?A p ol ogi es.? ?T h an k y ou D oc- .? ?H y eh h y eh . Eh m . Go on ,? D r . Cl ou d sai d as h e scr at ch ed u n d er h i s su p er v i l l ai n m ask . ?I t ch y.? ?T h an k y ou , D r . Cl ou d .? Sh e sai d w r y ly. ?For r em ov i n g my p r obl em at i c t eet h , f or r ep eat i n g

w h at I al r ead y k n ow an d f or af f i r m i n g th at ou r i m age of y ou as D esert City?s most awful villain who also happens to offer decent, affordable dental care i s p r ett y m u ch on th e n ose.? ?You ?r e w el com e, m y d ear .? D r . Cl ou d sai d w i th a ser i ou s f ace. H e th en cl i cked a bu tt on on th e w al l w h i ch op en ed a h ol e i n th e f l oor an d sen t M r s. O w en s scr eam i n g d ow n a n eed l ess tu be to th e gr ou n d f l oor . D r . Cl ou d y el l ed i n t o th e h ol e, ?You can p ay on y ou r w ay ou t!? I n th e qu i et th at f ol l ow ed , D r . Cl ou d l ooked at th e cal en d ar . A bi r t h d ay cake w as m ar ked on th e d ate of tod ay. 3. A m an w h o l ooked a l ot l i ke D r . Cl ou d w i th ou t th e m ask sat at a qu i et d i n er cou n t er , stu d y i n g th e m i r r or on th e back w al l . A secon d m an , Cap tai n T u esd ay, r ocked u p an d sat tw o ch ai r s aw ay f r om h i m . A w ai t r ess took h i s or d er . T h ey sat i n si l en ce. T h e w ai t r ess cam e ou t of th e k i tch en , h ol d i n g tw o sl i ces of cake w i t h a can d l e on each . Sh ocked , th ey both sp oke u p at th e sam e ti m e. ?B r oth er ??

Yo sem i t e D aw n i n g Sh au n a Potock y I k n ow w h er e t h e su n com es u p cr est s t h e ed ge of H al f D om e on m y bi r t h d ay ? l ate su m m er . W e go, each y ear , w at ch th e l i gh t r i se.

You h ave n ever f ai l ed m e by m y si d e at t h at ear ly h ou r eager as ou r ey es to th e d aw n , to t h e f r act u r ed n i gh t w h en t h e l i gh t com es.

N ot h i n g h as ever h el d u s back cr i sp ai r , l i gh t coat of i ce on bl ack r oad , sn ap p i n g ti m ber of M on o w i n d s catast r op h i c f i r e.

N ot h i n g h as h el d u s back f r om t h e n ew d ay ; ti n y, qu i et cel ebr at i on s on ly w e k n ow h u d d l ed t oget h er , w ar m ed by ou r selves h el d cl ose.

B r eat h an d step , d r eam or ach e, i n sep ar abl e. Year af t er y ear sn ow st or m or su m m er h eat, u n w aver i n g. W e savor i t, th i s con n ect i on w e h ave? w at ch i n g Yosem i te d aw n i n g. N ow I k n ow, th e su n w i l l alw ay s r i se cr est t h e r i d ge of H al f D om e on m y bi r th d ay i n ju st th e sam e p l ace i n t o m i l l en n i a? p ou r i n g l i gh t i n t o t h e Val l ey as i t d oes n ow

even w i t h y ou gon e m y ol d , good d og.

Som ed ay, m y bi r t h d ay w i l l be i n k al on gsi d e m y d eat h an d al l th at w i l l m at ter i s t h at t h e l i gh t sti l l com es an d I h op e som eon e i s th er e to w at ch Yosem i te d aw n i n g.

A r t w or k : A n n i e Gu l d ber g

N ew

for D anielle

Rach el L an d r u m Cr u m bl e

A r tw or k : Cy n th i a Yatch m an

Bi r d s sm al l as bu t t er f l i es cal l r i ver - br eeze th r ou gh al d er , i t s bl each ed l eaves r at tl i n g l i ke ol d gr i ef . T h ey si n g t h i s Febr u ar y d ay to Sp r i n g an d al m ost I bel i eve Sp r i n g on ly a son g aw ay.

For season s m y bod y h as l abor ed tow ar d r i p en i n g; th i s y ear i t r i p en s t ow ar d l abor . A l l th at w as gr een h as bl ed i n to th e r i ver w h i ch r i bbon s t h r ou gh th ese w ood s l i ke a jad e d r eam of su m m er . T h i s sm al l on e k i ck s at m y tou ch th e w ay w i n d f ol l ow s w at er . T i n y r oot s cl u t ch t h e af t er n oon - t h aw ed ear th ; so m u ch p ossi bi l i t y ! A m ar ch i n g ban d p l ay s i n th e d i st an ce? a r eal on e. Su n l i gh t scou r s th e ai r . H ow d i f f er en t ly I v i ew th e w or l d

T h e B i r t h d ay o f t h e Q u een M o t h er Sar ah Van A r sd al e T h e n i gh t bef or e I tu r n ed tw elve (T h e ai r f ar e w ou l d go u p th e n ex t d ay ) I w as p u t on a p l an e f i l l ed w i t h st r an ger s. I w or e a t ag t h at sai d , ?u n accom p an i ed m i n or .? I h ad a w i n d ow seat an d as w e sai l ed over th e Atl an ti c I l ooked d ow n th e w i n g t h e l i t t l e l i gh t bl i n k i n g th er e on th e ti p an d I t h ou gh t m y n ew w or d : talisman, k n ow i n g t h e r ed l i gh t l ooked ti n y bu t w as p r obably h u ge.

T h at ?s p er sp ecti ve, m y m oth er h ad sai d , as i f t h i s t r i p w er e n ecessar y as i f I w as f l eei n g som e gr ave d an ger , an d m ay be I w as, m y f am i ly ?s f i ssu r e cr ack i n g op en at l ast an d m e, al on e on th i s f l i gh t , both a w ed ge an d a sh i m .

I t w as a great opportunity! I w as going abroad! M y bi r t h d ay th e sam e as t h e Q u een M oth er ?s an d t h er e w ou l d be f i r ew or k s, an d I ?d n ever f or get t h e t i m e I t u r n ed tw elve.

W e h ad f am i ly i n L on d on w h o I ?d n ever m et . I saw Bu ck i n gh am Pal ace an d t h e Tow er of L on d on . I r od e a d ou bl e- d ecker bu s. A n d on t h e l i v i n g r oom sof a w h i l e h i s p ar en ts w er e ou t , m y cou si n , f i f t een , r oam ed h i s h an d s al l over m e l ook i n g f or som eth i n g t h at w asn ?t y et th er e, w h i l e I w ai t ed , f r ozen , af r ai d even t o br eat h e.

A n d n ow, al l over t h e w or l d seas ar e f i l l i n g w i t h boats t u m bl i n g u p sh or e to sh or e p u sh ed back to th e su r f ch i l d r en gr asp i n g th e gu n w al es.

Bu t I w en t h om e an d t h er e w as a ban n er m y f at h er h ad m ad e Welcome H ome World T raveler an d m y f avor i t e B l ack For est Cake.

T h e d ay I t u r n ed tw elve t h e bel l s r an g al l over L on d on f or t h e bi r t h d ay of th e m oth er of th e qu een .

A r tw or k : A l essan d r a Br eal l

H ead l i gh t s an d B i r t h d ay s Patr i ck I n gl ot I t?s been an ot h er 365 d ay s. I am

cl u ster of

back agai n . H ow I d r ead th i s d ate.

l ook s a l ot l i ke an A.

I t?s m ar ked on m y cal en d ar , an d as soon as t h e m on t h t u r n s over , th e an x i ety

begi n s.

Ever y

su n set

br i n gs m e on e d ay cl oser to th at r ed ci r cl e et ch ed on t o th e 24th of Febr u ar y. I w i sh t i m e w ou l d sl ow to su ch a cr aw l as t o p r even t i t s com i n g.

star s r i gh t above u s

A f or A l l i son . T h e f i r st ti m e I r ead y ou r n am e w as on th e si lver n am e tag

i l l u m i n ated

h ead l i gh ts,

p i n n ed to th at w r i n k l ed br ow n u n i f or m during

y ou w er e sti l l w ear i n g y ou r

w al k

h om e

f r om

w or k . N ow I am car ef u l ly m ov i n g my

f i n ger s th r ou gh

th e ch i sel

T h e n i gh t w e m et i s sti l l v i v i d an d

m ar k s on th e ston e. Allison Lade.

cl ear to m e. A m em or y I can ?t

M y h an d s d r ag sl ow ly d ow n over

sm u d ge d esp i t e al l m y ef f or ts. I t

th e p ol i sh ed gr an i te an d sear ch f or

w as su ch a d ar k n i gh t , m u ch l i ke

th e r em ai n i n g en gr av i n g, tr aci n g

tod ay. T h er e w er e som e star s i n

each

th e sk y, bu t y ou can n ever see

1958- 1977.

th em f r om t h e ci t y an y w ay. O u t h er e i n t h e f i el d , th ou gh , th ey sh i n e so m u ch br i gh t er . I k n ow y ou r can ?t see t h em , bu t I h op e y ou can h ear m e. I ?ll tel l y ou w h at th ey l ook l i ke. T h er e?s on e bi g star th at?s sh i n i n g t h e br i gh test . I t ?s so f ar f r om t h e ot h er s, bu t i t seem s to be d oi n g ju st f i n e on i t s ow n . Cl oser t o t h e m oon , f ou r sm al l star s tr ai l beh i n d a m u ch l ar ger on e,

l i ke

baby

f ol l ow i n g t h ei r

d u ck s

eager ly

m om . D i d

y ou

d i gi t

i ts

en ti r ety.

I w an t to si t f or a w h i l e w i th y ou , bu t th er e?s so m u ch sn ow on th e gr ou n d . Even th e tal l est bl ad es of gr ass h ave van i sh ed ben eath th e sm oot h w h i te sh een . At l east i t m akes a p r ett y r ef l ect i on f or th e m oon l i gh t .

I ?ll

stan d

h er e

alw ay s, bu t I ?m so ver y ti r ed . I w i sh I cou l d tel l y ou I ?ve d on e am azi n g th i n gs i n th i s l ast y ear . T h at I ?ve sp en t th i s secon d ch an ce at l i f e w i sely an d m ad e th e m ost of i t .

h ave an y k i d s? I ju st r eal i zed th at I ?ve n ever asked y ou th at bef or e. A

T h e t r u t h i s I st i l l d on ?t sl eep ; I ?ve

w h o k n ew y ou . I see th e f l ow er

accep t ed t h at t o be a p er m an en t

ar r an gem en ts

con d i t i on n ow. I h aven ?t gon e to

f am i ly m u st h ave com e tod ay as

th er ap y i n qu i te som e ti m e. I

w el l to v i si t y ou , th e an n i ver sar y

d on ?t t h i n k I can get an y bett er . I

of th e n i gh t I k i l l ed y ou . I w i sh

d on ?t h ave an y exci ti n g stor i es to

th at n i gh t h ad en d ed d i f f er en tly. I

br i n g y ou as a p r esen t. I p r om i se

w i sh I n ever d r ove th at n i gh t. I

I ?ll t r y t o d o som et h i n g w or t h

w i sh I h ad n ever m et y ou at al l . I

tel l i n g y ou abou t th i s y ear .

w i sh i t cou l d be y ou v i si ti n g m y

I d o w an t y ou to k n ow I sti l l h aven ?t h ad a si n gl e d r i n k si n ce th at n i gh t . I f I k n ew y ou r r eal bi r t h d ay, I w ou l d v i si t y ou on i t

ar e

f r esh .

You r

gr ave i n stead . Bu t I ?ve n ever h ad a w i sh com e tr u e bef or e. I n stead , al l I can say i s, have a calm 7th birthday.

i n st ead . Bu t I d on ?t, an d I ?m too

I am so sor r y. See y ou n ex t y ear ,

m u ch of a cow ar d to ask an y on e

A l l i son .

A r tw or k : Kel ly Sar gen t

W er e y o u p ay i n g at t en t i o n ? L aw r en ce Br i d ges T h e bal l i s ol d T h e cat i s n ew T h e bi r t h d ay p ar t y i s tom or r ow

I p r om i sed to tr y som et h i n g d i f f er en t (y ou r at ten t i on i s ol d )

L an gu age i s p r i son r ap So i s h ear t beat th ou gh si l en t

A r tw or k : M ar ci e Jan Br on st ei n

T h i s p age i n t en ti on al ly n ot l ef t bl an k ?

w er e I t o f or get y ou r bi r t h d ay, p r obably f or got m i n e t oo

- D ou g Pr of i tt

A r tw or k : L i n d sey M or r i son Gr an t

WRITERS Cassandra Hamilton is a disabled artist/writer with traumatic brain injury and central vision loss in one eye who creates from dreams, shamanic journeys, and life. Her writing has appeared in Brevity Blog, 101 Words, The Door Opener Magazine, and three Writing It Real anthologies edited by Sheila Bender. She teaches Active Dreaming (a synthesis of dreamwork and shamanism), including workshops on Dreaming and Writing, through her company BearDog Dreaming. Anna Svoboda is an American writer living in London. She just finished her master's degree in writing while on maternity leave and is now back at work handling all copy for a global music company. Andi Myles is a Washington DC area science writer by day, but she nourishes her creative writing ambitions at red lights, on walks, and while cleaning the chicken coop. She received an MFA from Sarah Lawrence College and her essay, Impressions from a Vacuum, was listed in The Best American Essays 2017 as one of the Notable Essays and Literary Nonfiction of 2016. Her work has appeared in Alligator Juniper, Beyond Words, and Wild Roof Journal. Rivka Nomberg is interested in children and other elements of nature. She is a poet in Arizona. J. Clark Hubbard is a poet and teacher living in West TN with his partner, Abbey. He is purs uing his MFA at the University of Memphis while working for the The Pinch—Memphis’ literary journal. Clark has been published in Ember Chasm Review, The Torch, & Our Jackson Home, among others. Begonya Plaza-Rosenbluth is an American actress of theatre film and television, produced and published playwright, published poet, and visual artist of documentary works. Begonya has been directed by Oliver Stone, Clint Eastwood, Michael Mann, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Walter Hill, amongst others, and some of the actors she's worked with are: Willem Dafoe, Tom Cruise, Nick Nolte, Carol O'Connor, Roddy McDowall, Tom Cavanagh, and Robert De Niro. Begonya wrote, produced, directed, narrated, and edited, a 45-minute documentary, about the history of her Basque culture during the Spanish Civil War, and the bombing of Gernika, where her father was born and raised. After filming a six-episode CBS tv series in Barcelona, she stayed to live and start a family there, where inspired by the life of Salvador Dalí, and the first hand stories she heard, wrote a screenplay, for which, actress, Glenn Close signed a letter of interest to play, Gala, and diretor of photography, Juan RuizAnchía signed to direct. The funding never came through, and though it was an amazing learning endeavor, Begonya opted for embarking on writing a novel based on her screenplay. Her documentary, Souvenir Views, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, Festival of New Latin American Cinema, traveled to universities, and aired on the IFC channel throughout the year of 2004. Teresa's Ecstasy is a two-act, three-character play that Begonya wrote and also acted in opposite, Shawn Elliott, and Linda Larkin, Off-Broadway at the Cherry Lane Theatre. Teresa's Ecstasy is published by Broadway Play Publishing, Inc. Her poem, Love, is published in the "Silver Tongued Devil Anthology / Rimes of the Ancient Mariner" Celebrating 5 years of East Village poetry, 2021 S.E. Joakim lives with her husband and two dogs in Maine. She is a Master Gardener who participates in Harvest for Hunger, and enjoys writing articles for the MGV Roots newsletter. A dog lover; she owns two dogs, and a doggie daycare. She holds a Ph.D. in special education, with an emphasis on teaching writing. Jennifer Shneiderman is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker living in Los Angeles. Her work has appeared, or is forthcoming, in many publications, including: The Rubbertop Review, Anti-Heroin Chic, Trouvaille Review, Prospectus and The Perch. She received an Honorable Mention in the Laura Riding Jackson 2020 Poetry Competition. KJ Hannah Greenberg is eclectic. She’s played oboe, participated in martial arts, learned basket weaving, and studied Middle Eastern dancing. What’s more, she’s a certified herbalist, and an AP College Board-authorized teacher of calculus. Royal Baysinger lived most of his life on a small farm in Arizona before moving to Germany, then Canada. He has an MA in German and is currently living in Quebec where he is learning French with his supportive wife. He is proud to have his first publication with Beyond Words. Mackenzie Treadway. Bachelor’s degree, Psychology. First publication. TikTok @gottagetoutsomehow.

Gianna Daley is an 18-year-old writer. She lives in the United Kingdom. Visit her on IG @landoflongings. Daren Schuettpelz lives in Germany, with his family, where he teaches the power of literature and creative writing to military-connected high school English students. His work has appeared in The Birdseed and Beyond Words and is forthcoming in The Evening Street Review and After Dinner Conversations. Social Media - Twitter: @mollyandowen Instagram: @darenwritesstories Bonita LeFlore was born in the month of October in New York City. Several of her short stories have been published in various journals including: Work Literary Magazine, Front Porch Review and Mulberry Fork Review. She lives and works on the Northshore of Massachusetts, where she practices magical thinking. Cathy Hollister was a Finalist in the Ageless Authors 2020 Coping with Crisis writing contest. Her work has been in Smoky Blue Literary and Arts Magazine, Corona Global Lockdown and It’s Not Easy published by Poet’s Choice, and others. She lives in middle Tennessee. Dianalee Velie is the Poet Laureate of Newbury NH. She is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College, and has a Master of Arts in Writing from Manhattanville College. She is the author of six books of poetry, Glass House, First Edition, The Many Roads to Paradise, The Alchemy of Desire, Ever After, Italian Lesson and a collection of short stories, Soul Proprietorship: Women in Search of Their Souls. She is a member of the National League of American Pen Women, the New England Poetry Club, the International Woman Writers Guild, the New Hampshire Poetry Society and founder of the John Hay Poetry Society. Charlie J. Stephens is a non-binary, mixed-race writer living on unceded Chochenyo Ohlone land. Charlie has lived all over the U.S. as a bike messenger, wilderness guide, book seller, and shark diver (for educational purposes only). More at charliejstephenswriting.com and on Instagram @charliejstephenswriting. Emily Benson (she/her) writes poems of humanity, longing, and nature. She lives in Western New York with her husband and two sons. Ms. Benson’s previous publications include Blue River Review, Five Minute Lit, Hey, I’m Alive Magazine, High Shelf Press, Moist Poetry Journal, Other Worldly Women Press, Sad Girls Club Literary Blog, and Unstamatic. Her work can be found at www.emilybensonpoet.com. Jane Palmer is a professor, activist, and community-based researcher at a university in Washington, DC. When she's not reading, writing, or hanging out with her family and friends, she is dreaming of a world without violence. Twitter: @jane_e_palmer; Instagram: @love_your_life Kindra McDonald is the author of the collections Fossils and In the Meat Years and was the recipient of the 2020 Haunted Waters Press Poetry Award. She received her MFA from Queens University of Charlotte and is an Adjunct Professor of Writing and Teaching Artist at The Muse Writers Center. She serves as the Poetry Society of Virginia Southeastern region Vice President and you can find her at www.kindramcdonald.com Matthew Vargo writes in Pittsburgh, PA. Pursuing a creative writing MFA from Chatham University, his work has been published in The National Gay & Lesbian Review, Wingless Dreamer & Poet's Choice. He can be found on Instagram @insertmattlish. Omar Kayal. An engineering drop-out turned economics alumnus turned banker turned screenwriting masters alumnus turned website salesman, turned script reader, who likes to write what you might consider to be poems & now for the first time, short stories, to express internal goings-on, in relation to the world. Otherwise, 28. Lebanese. Living in Dubai. Shauna Potocky is a poet and painter who calls Seward, Alaska home. She lives at the base of the mountains that frame Resurrection Bay. Her daily work is focused on the stewardship of public lands and helping people connect to nature through education, journaling and literary arts. Shauna's poetry has been published in Cirque, Alaska Women Speak, The Seward Sun and other publications. Her artwork has also been featured on the cover of Alaska Women Speak. She previously served on the

board of 49 Writers and continues to serve as a preliminary book reviewer for the Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival. Rachel Landrum Crumble works as a High School Inclusion teacher, having taught kindergarten through college. She has published in The Porterhouse Review, Typishly, SheilaNaGig, and Common Ground Review and Spoon River Review, and others. Her first poetry collection Sister Sorrow will be published by Finishing Line Press in January or February 2022. She lives in Chattanooga, TN with her husband of 40 years, a jazz drummer. They became grandparents to twins in August. Look her up at poetteachermom.com. Sarah Van Arsdale’s sixth book – “TAKEN”, a poetry chapbook, is forthcoming from Finishing Line Press. She is the author of four books of fiction, including BLUE, the 2002 winner of the Peter Taylor Prize for the Novel. She teaches fiction writing in the Antioch University/Los Angeles low-residency MFA program. Patrick Inglot is a Canadian Hobby writer that typically sticks to short stories of 1000 words or less. He likes to write stories that don't have happy endings, and break the "recipe" of writing. The poetry of Lawrence Bridges has appeared in The New Yorker, Poetry, and The Tampa Review. He has published three volumes of poetry: Horses on Drums, Flip Days, and Brownwood with Red Hen Press. Doug Profitt began to send work out (mostly poetry) in 2020. Thank goodness his accepted writing overcomes the rejections. He feels family, friends, music and poetry helps him cope with all that’s going on.

VISUAL ARTISTS Cover art: What Matters Most by Thomas Oscar Miles. Self portraiture is a way for Thomas to find empowerment within himself: transforming personal vulnerabilities into a visual spectrum of growth. Where once he would hide from what dwelled inside of him, photography acts as that release that frees those delicate vulnerabilities, transforming them into dark, detailed and timele ss images. Keith Edwards, The Magnificant VII vs Aliens. Keith hails from a family full of artists and musicians, however as a young man he chose sports in school, then worked as a pilot before switching to computers and IT. He needed an activity during the pandemic so he began categorizing his travel photos; and quite by accident this led to creating digital art renditions of his own photos. He named this his "PosterArte". www.posterarte.com Marlana Adele Vassar, Medallions. Marlana is a visual artist living and working in Pittsburgh, PA. She primarily focuses on symbolism and surrealism in her art, and features sumptuous figures in lush environments. She loves to create images with rich visual stories that celebrate a balance between style and substance. Erika B. Girard, Beloved. Erika B. Girard is currently pursuing her M.A. in English and Creative Writing with a concentration in Poetry through SNHU. Originally from Rhode Island, she derives creative inspiration from her family, friends, faith, and fascination with the human experience. Her work appears or is forthcoming in The Alembic, Edify Fiction, Iris Literary Journal, Sandhill Review, Wild Roof Journal, and more. Max Stewart, Cardinals in Chaos. Max has been painting in her home in Glenville, West Virginia, where she also teaches college English. Her work has been in juried exhibitions at the Mount Airy Art Garage in Philadelphia and Carnegie Hall in Lewisburg, West Virginia. In her past lives, she has been a standup comic, a marathon runner, and a department store makeup artist. Svetlana Goubanova, Comme les garçons. Svetlana is an oil and pastel artist based in Canada; she loves exploring new themes and can be frequently seen around the neighborhood painting en plein air with her kids and her beagle, rain or shine. Follow her on Instagram: @svet.art.canada. Sophia Kelly Shultz, Ethiopian Wolf. Sophia is a self-taught artist, from a family of self-taught artists, raised in a home where art was a daily thing, like eating and breathing. For many years she worked as a portraitist, creating a niche for herself in the science fiction community; it is there that she became interested in what at the time was called “costuming” and is now referred to as “cosplay,” only her designs were original and incorporated beads and embroidery, for which she won many awards. Being traditional artists, her family didn't realize that there was something called “fiber arts,' and for years she described this art as “fancy work” and “sewing,” so she does keep in touch with her artistic roots: her publications with Schiffer Publishing feature work in watercolor and gouache, colored pencil or pen and ink. Naomi Hart, Chrysalis - of the air. Encaustic Mixed Media piece in found wood. Naomi is a Minnesota artist who references the natural world through personal experience and storytelling traditions to explore a fascination for placement and convergence. Birds and animals are depicted as one with humans, providing empathy, council and access to the divine. She takes refuge in nature, espousing a child-like wonder for the world around her and the essential transformative quality found within such places. Lisa Cantwell, sandwish. Lisa is a recent graduate of the MFA in Writing program at the University of San Francisco. Her work has been featured in or is forthcoming in Ponder Review, Beyond Words Literary Magazine, The Pointed Circle, High Shelf Press and Underblong. She is a freelance theatre director, performer and educator living in Santa Monica, California. Donald Guadagni, Fall. Donald is a licensed educator currently living and conducting education research and teaching in Beijing China. He has been writing creatively and professionally for five years and has had his, poetry, prose, fiction, non-fiction, science fiction, children's, memoir, academic, art, and photographic work published internationally.

Bruce Magnotti, Martyrs of Science. Bruce Magnotti has been a photographer for most of his life and has worked throughout the world including Western and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. He has filmed in diverse places such as the Jerusalem Theater and the Hamburg State Opera House, the Pine Barrens of New Jersey and the Hoh Rain Forest in Washington State. His photos have appeared on magazine covers and articles throughout the world. His art photos have been displayed in galleries from coast to coast including cities such as San Francisco, Seattle, as well as Boston, Washington, D.C. and New York. The image is from a sculpture atop the tomb of balloonists of Joseph Croce-Spinelli and Théodore Sivel. Shot in Pere Lachaise Cemetery, Paris, France in 2017. They attempted to break the height records for balloon travel when they were asphyxiated from lack of oxygen. Alex Alexandre, Cracked Nightscapes. Alex is a writer and collage artist based in Liverpool, UK. She has had flash fictions and short stories published online and will soon be published in an anthology of writers as part of the Writing on the Wall project. She does collage and mixed media art. Nijole Rasmussen, Sheltered Marsh, 36x36, acrylic painting. Nijole is an abstract artist living in Denver, Colorado. Her art is her perception of reality with touch of realism. She expresses herself with color and form as it speaks to her. MRyan, Loss. MRyan is a short story writer and painter living along Florida's Gulf Coast. Ramona Galardi, Duality - The Masks we Wear. 2015 / lithograph 1/4 / W19 x H14 cm. Ramona is an artist, a therapist and a writer. She often merges the 3 aspects of her work, and much revolves around self-questioning where her art and writing is an expression of her inner canvas. Her background is from a variety of creative fields, interiors, fashion, wellbeing, healing, fine art and writing. She enjoys expressing herself through this rich diversity. She has lived in the UK, France, Singapore, India and presently living in Portugal. She is originally from India. Visit her at www.ramonagalardi.com or on IG @ramona_galardi. Kathrine Cays, Follow the River. Kathrine is an artist-poet and founder of Teleios Studios in New Hill, North Carolina, where she writes and creates interdisciplinary artwork. Kathrine leads workshops that intersect creative writing and visual arts, focusing on understanding and healing the human spirit. She is a candidate for a master’s degree in art therapy and creative development at Pratt Institute in New York. Lisa Wright, Twins. Lisa is a freelance writer/content creator/book reviewer and (very) amateur photographer. She likes reading, writing, cooking, baking, British panel shows, and foreign language police dramas. Though she generally avoids social media, you can sometimes find her on Twitter and Instagram @dolphy_jane Barbara Martin, Birthday Cake. Barbara is a visual artist who grew up on three continents and has lived in twelve states coast to coast. She currently lives outside Philadelphia. Her work is contemporary in style and leans toward the abstract and sometimes surreal or visionary. She has completed several residencies in the West, and her paintings have been displayed in galleries and museums across America, as well as published in numerous on-line and print publications. Todd Brugman, Automatic Gravity. Todd is a contemporary oil painter who lives and works in and around Boston. He stared taking college art classes at the age of 12, when he feel in love with oils, although, he considers himself mostly self-educated and never stops learning and studying. He paints daily at his studio in Boston's south end where he is transported into his works to understand, study, and inevitably embody absolute beauty via paint. Lou Storey, As if Crazy Bill. Lou is a visual artist, writer and psychotherapist. He lives with his husband of 33 years, Steve, and their family of cats, dogs and chickens. Annie Guldberg, The Rejoicing Dawn. Annie is an oil painter based out of southern Iowa. Her pieces reflect a mixture of real places and the dream world. She creates out of her home studio, and enjoys life with her husband and two sons. Visit her on Instagram @OilPainterAnnie

Cynthia Yatchman, Covid Bamboo 6. Cynthia is a Seattle based artist and art instructor. She shows extensively in the Pacific Northwest. Past shows have included Seattle University, the Tacoma and Seattle Convention Centers and the Pacific Science Center. Her art is housed in numerous publ ic and private collections. Alessandra Breall, Always Watching. Alessandra is a senior in high school who loves to use art to analyze the world around her. She created her piece during the pandemic when she was stuck indoors and took a painting class for school. Kelly Sargent, Spilt Stars. Kelly Sargent’s 2021 poetry and artwork, including a current Best of the Net nominee, appeared in dozens of publications in the U.S. and abroad. She has served as a creative nonfiction editor for a literary journal, and currently reviews for an organization whose mission is to make visible the artistic expression of sexual violence survivors. This is her third contribution to Beyond Words. Marcie Jan Bronstein, Still Life. A graduate of The Fashion Institute of Technology and Hampshire College, Marcie’s work has been exhibited, published, and commissioned for thirty years. From 20142018, she traveled the world teaching creative watercolor painting to hundreds of passengers on ships. Since 1996, she has lived and worked in a reconstructed barn on the coast of Maine, with her family and their cat Bacio. Marcella Peralta Simon, Chaos. Marcella is a Latinx grandmother, retired, who splits her time between the Fens of Ely, UK and the swamps of Central Florida. She teaches online and writes poetry and short fiction. Her artwork has been published by The Acentos Review and Smoky Blue Literary and Arts Magazine. Lindsey Morrison Grant, Cake. Selt-identifying as a neurodiverse, two-spirit, elder storyteller, Lindsey attributes success, survival (if not salvation) to a superlative support system, mindfulness practice, and daily creative expression in words, sounds, and images.

Contents 0 1 A B i r t h d ay L i ke N o O th er Cassan d r a H am i l ton 0 6 You r B i r t h d ay A n d i M y l es 0 8 N est Ri v k a N om ber g 11 Sest i n a w i t h B i r t h d ay Scot ch J. Cl ar k H u bbar d 14 To Cat er i n a f r om M oth er Begon y a Pl aza- Rosen bl u th 16 10 0 -W or d Ch al l en ge i n cl u d i n g S.E. Joak i m , Jen n i f er Sh n ei d er m an , K J H an n ah Gr een ber g, Roy al Bay si n ger , M acken zi e T r ead w ay, Gi an n a D al ey an d D ar en Sch u ettp el z 21 M agi cal T h i n k i n g B on i t a L eFl or e 23 T h e Pl ay i s t h e T h i n g Cath y H ol l i st er 24 D i v i n e D esi r e D i an al ee Vel i e 25 A n n i h i l at i on f or B egi n n er s Ch ar l i e J. St ep h en s 30 H ap p y B i r t h d ay Em i ly B en son 32 A t w i n w i t h ou t a tw i n Jan e Pal m er 34 O n t h e occasi on of m y h u sban d 's 40 th bi r t h d ay K i n d r a M cD on al d 36 N o, I h aven 't t ex ted Ad am back M at th ew Var go 38 H ap p y B i r t h d ay, Cap t ai n T u esd ay O m ar K ay al 42 Yosem i te D aw n i n g Sh au n a Potock y 44 N ew Rach el L an d r u m Cr u m bl e 45 T h e B i r t h d ay of th e Q u een M oth er Sar ah Van A r sd al e 48 H ead l i gh t s an d B i r t h d ay s Patr i ck I n gl ot 50 W er e y ou p ay i n g at ten t i on ? L aw r en ce Br i d ges 51 T h i s p age i n t en ti on al ly n ot l ef t bl an k ? D ou g Pr of i tt

Beyond Words I nternational Literary M agazine I SBN 978- 3- 948977- 99- 3