Beyond Words Magazine, Issue 27, June 2022 by Beyond Words Literary Magazine

A r tw or k : M i a H ol ber g

Issue27 June2022

Beyond Words

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 27, Ju n e 20 22 Ed i tor : Gal Sl on i m Ed i tor i al B oar d : CJ W i l l i am s, L ael Cassi d y, Kel ly Sar gen t 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

C J W i l l i am s i s t h e ed i t or / f ou n d er of th e l i ter ar y jou r n al , Sh i k i 's Str i n gs. Cu r r en t r esi d en t of B oston , M A , U SA , sh e h as l i ved i n I r el an d , Cr oati a, Cal i f or n i a, an d t r avel ed acr oss Eu r op e by f oot . Sh e stu d i ed Ru ssi an , I t al i an , an d Com p ar at i ve L i t er at u r e i n u n i ver si t y, an d Ph i l osop h y i n gr ad u ate sch ool . A n i n vet er ate stor y tel l er , l ogop h i l e, i n t er i or an d ex ter i or ad ven tu r er , an d w r i t er , sh e w as bor n l i sten i n g, an d sti l l d oes; excep t w h en sh e's ask i n g a qu esti on . L ael C assi d y w r i t es p oem s, stor i es, an d essay s, an d h er w or k h as ap p ear ed i n H ead l i n e Poet r y an d Pr ess, Si lver B i r ch , U n d er w ood Pr ess, an d B ey on d W or d s. Sh e h as al so w r i t ten si x t een n on f i ct i on ch i l d r en 's book s. Sh e l i ves i n Seattl e an d i s cu r r en t ly at w or k on a m em oi r . K el l y Sar gen t ?s p oem s an d ar t w or k , i n cl u d i n g a Best of th e N et n om i n ee, ap p ear ed or ar e f or t h com i n g i n m or e th an th i r t y l i ter ar y p u bl i cati on s. H er d ebu t p oet r y ch ap book en ti tl ed Seei n g Voi ces: Poetr y i n M ot i on i s al so f or t h com i n g (Kel say B ook s, 20 22). Sh e h as ser ved as Cr eati ve N on f i cti on Ed i t or of T h e Booken d s Rev i ew an d an assi stan t n on f i cti on ed i tor f or N ew f ou n d . Sh e al so r ev i ew s f or a l i ter ar y m agazi n e d ed i cated t o m ak i n g v i si bl e t h e ar ti st i c ex p r essi on of sex u al v i ol en ce su r v i vor s.

Seat t l e Ju n e Ch ad w i k U tter ly n ew t o m e, t h e ci ty becam e ou r s w h en h e en tw i n ed ou r f i n ger s an d p u l l ed m e

m y h ear t sti l l p ou n d i n g, ou r h an d s com p ou n d i n g h eat l i ke cr u sh ed ch i l i s i n a p est l e, u n coi l ed ever - so- sl i gh tly ;

t o th e sp i ce sh op . H e r u sh ed m e th r ou gh t h e st r eet s to th e sh ock of f r esh cu m i n ,

A r r est i n g an d sw eet, cay en n e an d cr acked car d am om , I asked f or som et h i n g th at w ou l d ch an ge m e.

t h y m e, basi l , p ap r i k a: th e sm el l w as n am el ess becau se i t w as ever y w h er e. B ar r el s h el m ed

Fr om a d el i cat e p i l e, h e coated h i s f i n ger i n gr ou n d an n atto seed s to k i ss m y l i p s r ed w i th i ts bl u sh .

w i th scoop s, I w ou l d n 't d i scon n ect f r om h i m t o gr ab on e. H e ben t t o sam p l e w i t h a br eat h , d eep ly d r aw n ,

A r tw or k : L au r al ee Si kor sk i

O d e t o M y Fi r st M o l esk i n Er y n O 'N eal O h l oy al an d con st an t d an d el i on y el l ow p ocket - si zed n otebook , w h i ch I h ave t r an sf er r ed f r om p u r se to p ocket t o p ocket book t o f an n y p ack t o back p ack t o br i ef case al l th ese m on t h s? t o ow n y ou i s t o si gn al en d l ess p ossi bi l i t i es, a bl an k p age: t h e sp ace w h er e p oet i c gen i u s i s bor n . Cl assi c h ar d cover w i t h a book m ar k r i bbon an d el asti c cl osu r e, h ow I an gst ed over y ou r col or , si ze, an d p ap er l ay ou t . I m agi n i n g w h i ch p l an t - based col or best ar gu ed th e ser i ou sn ess w i th w h i ch I t ook m y cr af t . M y r tl e gr een , d ai sy p i n k , an d f i n al ly ar r i v i n g at d an d el i on y el l ow af t er a d eep d i ve i n t o col or ol ogy ? th e sci en ce (an d m agi c) of col or . Yel l ow, a p i gm en t t h at tou ts m oti v at i on , i n tel l ect , an d p er son al p ow er . A l so, th e col or of m y f i r st tr ai n i n g br a. Ju st as th e f l i m sy f abr i c m ar ked a r i te of p assage, so too w ou l d m y f i r st M ol esk i n e. Ju st as th e p eek i n g str ap s sh ou ted to t h e w or l d , ?I ?m on m y w ay to w om an h ood !? T h e n otebook p eek i n g ou t of m y back p ocket w ou l d w h i sp er , ?See? Cl ear ev i d en ce? as br i gh t as th e y el l ow su n ? th at I am i n d eed a p oet.? H as an y t h i n g el se ever sp oken m or e cl ear ly ? T h e cl assi c n ot ebook t h at tr aces i t s or i gi n back t o som e of t h e gr eat est th i n ker s an d w r i ter s of ou r ti m e. I h ear d th at Sy lv i a Pl at h ow n ed on e. Can y ou i m agi n e? ch ar coal - i n - h an d , st r i k i n g th r ou gh th e f i r st stan za of Ariel i n h er (p r esu m ably y el l ow ) M ol esk i n e n ot ebook ? Pr essi n g h er p en ci l to ?God ?s l i on ess? an d r el ocati n g i t t o th e secon d st an za. O h th e stor i es th at n ot ebook w ou l d tel l !

O h d ear Pl at h - on i an n ot ebook ! N est l ed (som ew h at u n com f or tably ) i n th e w ai st ban d of m y p ocket - l ack i n g y oga p an ts, th e m or n i n g as br i gh t w i t h op p or tu n i t y as y ou r bar ely br oken sp i n e. You r M on t B l an c com p an i on w ed ged betw een y ou r h ar d ex ter i or an d el ast i c ban d , both w h i ch keep h i d d en an d p r i v at e al l ou r cr eati ve gen i u s. A s I w al k i n t o t h e l ocal gr ocer s, p en p l aced d el i cately beh i n d m y ear an d M ol esk i n e i n m y op en p al m , a gestu r e of gi v i n g an d r ecei v i n g, I l i ck m y f i n ger an d op en y ou u p . Bal on ey, can n el l on i , m acar on i , m i n estr on e, p ep p er on i , r i gat on i , sp u m on i . A l f r ed o, p ot ato, t om at o. Bean s, gr een s, n ect ar i n es, sar d i n es, tan ger i n es. A h y es, m y h on ey - h u ed d ar l i n g, w h at a h or r or i t i s! To com e to th e r eal i zat i on th at th e m agi c of y ou r p u r ch ase v an i sh ed th e m om en t I sw i p ed m y cr ed i t car d . N ow, a 20 d ol l ar p l ace to h ou se m y gr ocer y l i st ? d r af ted i n a cr oss br eeze at th e op en w i n d ow of m y W i l l i am St r eet l of t as I p on d er ed m y st r on g i m p u l se f or ever y t h i n g I w r i t e to be tr u e.

A r tw or k : Ri ta M al en czy k

T h i n gs T o D o o n a T i n y I sl an d w i t h a Si n gl e C o co n u t T r ee Jér ém i D ou cet Pi ck th e t h r ee cocon u t s. Rem ove t h ei r h u sk s w i t h n ai l s. Fi n d n o r ock . Beat th e cocon u t agai n st h ead . Sl am i t i n t h e san d . Sw i m i n t h e ocean . L et th e u n d er t ow p u l l toes. O bser ve t h e t h r eat of jel ly f i sh . M ake a san d p ar l i am en t A n d th en d est r oy i t . M ake a san d p y r am i d O n top of a sacr ed cocon u t .

T h r ow on e cocon u t at th e sea A s an of f er i n g. Si t ben eat h th e p al m f r on d s I n th e on ly p u d d l e of sh ad e. Star e at th e l ast cocon u t T h at r ef u ses to be op en ed . L i st en to th e w aves D an ce a m oon d an ce. W ai t f or a bl essi n g To w ash on t o sh or e. A sh ar p r ock To cr ack th i n gs op en .

A r tw or k : L au r a Pam en t er

T h o u gh I T r y t o Fo r get D i ck A l tm an Gu i l t, th e son g i n m y h ead . T h e son g si t t i n g si l en t, u n ti l h ead l i n es d i sl od ge i t al l over agai n .

I n th e sh ad ow of a f ou r - stor y w al k- u p i n H ar l em , bef or e Roe vs. W ad e, I si t i n t h e car sh i ver i n g, bu t n ot f r om col d .

A f r i en d cl i m bs t h e stai r s to m eet a w om an w i t h ou t a n am e. Ei gh t h u n d r ed , al l cash , al l w e h ave, to d o w h at w e can ?t u n d o al on e.

T w o d ay s l at er i n t h e ER. T h e n am el ess w om an ? w h at h as sh e d on e? O n e i m age of ou r selves er ased , n o ch an ce f or an oth er .

H ead l i n es r e- aw aken a d ay of ver t i go an d d el i r i u m , a m ad ci r cu s of er r or s. Som et h i n g br oken f or good . T h e son g, w h i sp er i n g.

A r tw or k : Tar i n i T i p n i s

H i t t i n g t h e W al l M ar k W i l l i am s T hey have their exits and their entrances. ? f r om t h e p oem ?T h e Seven A ges of M an ? i n Sh akesp ear e?s As You Like I t. 1977. T h er e I w as, st r u ggl i n g th r ou gh m i l e tw en ty - on e of a Ju ly m ar at h on i n For t W ay n e, I n d i an a, a r ace f or w h i ch I w as w oef u l ly u n d er t r ai n ed , as ev i d en ced by th e (d ead ) m eat w agon th at p u l l ed al on gsi d e m e an d th e over d on e r u n n er w h o stu ck h i s h an d ou t an d w aved m e i n si d e? as i f to say, you?re cooked. T h er e ar e d ay s, abou t to h i t th e w al l of m y ei gh t h d ecad e, I f eel cooked n ow. A n ach i n g sacr oi l i ac joi n t d oesn ?t h el p . You h ear abou t ol d f ol k s w h o f al l f r om step stool s w h i l e r each i n g f or a cat on a h i gh sh el f an d h i t a l ow cl oset w al l w i t h th ei r SI joi n t , bu t n ever d o y ou t h i n k y ou w i l l be on e of th ose f ol k s. Rest assu r ed , y ou n g p er son w h o can ?t f or esee a ti m e w h en t h ey w i l l be so ol d or stu p i d as to f al l f r om a st ep st ool w h i l e r each i n g f or an y th i n g, y ou w i l l be t h at ol d an d p ossi bly stu p i d on e d ay. I n d i an a Sk i n n y, m y ei gh t h - gr ad e cl assm at es cal l ed m e, f or I w as t h i n , l i ved i n I n d i an a, an d sh ot p ool , sti l l the whining school boy, with his satchel And shining morning face p l u s p ool cu e. N ot on ce d i d I n d i an a Sk i n n y p i ctu r e h i m sel f l i m p i n g p ar en tl ess i n to h i s seven ti es on a p l an et f r om w h i ch w e m i gh t n eed to escap e. N ever d i d h e f or esee a t i m e w h en th e ash es of n i n e an i m al s w ou l d l i n e t h e l ow er sh el f of h i s cl oset , f or ci n g Z an y Gr ey to th e top sh el f , w h er e sh e w ou l d aw ai t a p er i l ou s r escu e. * Ya got trouble, folks! Right here in River City. T rouble with a capital ?T ? And that rhymes with ?P? and that stands for pool!

san g Pr of essor H ar ol d H i l l to th e Ri ver Ci ty tow n sf ol k i n T he M usic M an. A s i f to p r ove th e p r of essor ?s p oi n t, on e t i m e I n d i an a Sk i n n y m i ssed a sh ot an d h i t t h e w al l i n an ger w i t h h i s cu e? r am m ed t h e bu t t of t h at su cker th r ou gh h i s basem en t p an el i n g. Bu t af t er h i t t i n g th e w al l , h e san k th e n ex t tw o sh ots. Year s l at er , w av i n g of f a For t W ay n e m eat w agon , I n d i an a Fai r ly - Sk i n n y br oke th r ou gh that w al l , cr ossi n g t h e f i n i sh l i n e l ate i n th e d ay t o t h e f eebl e ch eer s of scan t ch eer er s. L est y ou w or r y, I n d i an a N o- L on ger - Sk i n n y w i l l get t h r ou gh th i s w al l , too, th at age w h en h e shifts I nto the lean and slipper?d pantaloon W ith spectacles on nose well and pouch on side, even i f i t k i l l s h i m .

A r tw or k : w i n d f l ow er

A r tw or k : V. K av i

St ar i n g at m e al l th i s ti m e, w ai t i n g f or m e to n oti ce.

an d bi n d er s f i l l ed w i th basebal l an d Pokém on car d s.

p ol i cy book s, an d am on g f ad ed cop i es of W here the W ild T hings Are an d Curious George,

Pr obably som ep l ace obv i ou s, l i ke on th e sh el f f i l l ed w i th m y f at h er ?s ol d i n su r an ce

it.

I f I com e back tom or r ow af ter a good n i gh ts sl eep an d a d ecen t br eak f ast m ay be I ?ll f i n d

A sm i l e I h ave n ever seen bef or e, I gu ess I l ost th at too.

f ace.

A p h oto of m e i n over al l s sp or t i n g a bow l cu t, a sm i l e p er m an en tly cap t u r ed on m y

Each sear ch tu r n s u p som eth i n g d i f f er en t, som e n ew ol d th i n g.

M ay be I sh ou l d ch eck th e box tu cked aw ay i n th e cor n er beh i n d th e w at er h eater agai n ?

Cr am m ed u n d er ol d baby cl oth es an d on ce l oved stu f f ed an i m al s.

H i d d en som ew h er e i n a box , an d th at box h i d d en w i th i n a l ar ger box .

I r em em ber h ap p i n ess, th at ol d th i n g.

Br i an St ol l

O n e d ay I 'l l f i n d i t

Ey es Jo L am m

A r tw or k : Joh an n a Por t er

y ou p u l l t h e bl an ket u p t o cover y ou r n aked br east s as h e w al k s ou t t h e d oor escap i n g h i s cr i m e scen e

h ave y ou ever f el t ey es r oam gr eed i ly f r om y ou r f eet u p y ou r l egs y ou r ass, th e ass y ou tr y to cover i t ?s t oo bi g too f l esh y ; h u n gr y ey es r oam over y ou r bel ly n ot f l at en ou gh n ever f l at en ou gh p au si n g at y ou r br easts t h e d am n i m p l an t s y ou r egr et h ow stu p i d y ou w er e as a teen w an t i n g even m or e m al e atten t i on l asci v i ou s ey es sl ow ly cr eep i n g over y ou r cl eavage m ak i n g th ei r w ay u p y ou r n eck f i n al ly m eeti n g y ou r tr ou bl ed ey es w h er e y ou r aver si on m u st seep ou t i n r ay s of p u r p l e sm oke

h e say s y ou best l eave h er e soon an d p u t s a t w en t y - d ol l ar bi l l d ow n n ex t t o y ou on t h e bed as i f y ou ?r e a com m on w h or e as i f y ou , i n d eed , i n v i t ed y ou r sel f i n to h i s h u n gr y l ai r

t h e sk i r t an d col or f u l top th at ad or n y ou n ow f eel l ess l i ke cl oth es f or a f u n n i gh t ou t w i th th e gi r l s an d m or e l i ke a costu m e r eveal i n g too m u ch f l esh somehow his perversion has become your shame y ou r cu te ou tf i t t h e sh i n y ey esh ad ow an d r ed l i p s i n v i si bl e l acy p an t i es d oes i t gi ve h i m p er m i ssi on to gaze l i ke a p r ed ator cal cu l ate y ou r w or t h based on bod y p ar ts cu r ves an d ex p osed f l esh t o d et er m i n e w h et h er or n ot h e?ll sti ck ar ou n d to see i f y ou d r i n k en ou gh f or h i m to f ol l ow an d f ol l ow al l th e w ay t o h ave h i s w ay h ave y ou ever sen sed n er vou s d ev i ou s, f u r ti ve, p ar an oi d ey es absen t of em p ath y bu t f u l l of f ear gl an ci n g qu i ck ly at y ou r ach i n g bod y sp r aw l ed som ew h er e m ay be a bed y ou r n eck p u sh ed at an aw k w ar d an gl e w h er e ar e y ou r cl ot h es

d i d y ou n oti ce h ow i t r em i n d s y ou of y ou r d ead u n cl e?s d r u n ken l eer i n g ey es w h en y ou r boy f r i en d sw al l ow s too m an y sh ots an d get s t ou ch y n ot qu i t e u n d er st an d i n g th e i m p or t of y ou r no NO no no n ot ton i gh t i t i s so f u ck i n g h ar d t o f i gh t so y ou ju st l et i t h ap p en y ou h ave l ost y ou r voi ce a l on g ti m e ago as y ou l i e t h er e l ook i n g at t h e cei l i n g w i t h ey es t h at d o n ot see w on d er i n g at a boy f r i en d w h o can be so u t ter ly i n sen si ti ve an d w h y i n god ?s n am e d o y ou keep ch oosi n g t h e sam e on es over an d over h ave y ou ever been l ooked at an d n ot seen

C o l o gn e Jan et M cM i l l an Ri ves M ax ou r gu i d e say s p eop l e h er e ar e t al k at i ve an d f u n n y ? l i ke h i m I t h i n k . H e l oves h i s h om et ow n , a f on d n ess I 'm n ot p r ep ar ed to sh ar e. A n d y et I f i n d m y sel f en joy i n g t h e sp i r i t ed w al k th e su n sp l ash ed d ay col or f u l ly p ai n t ed h ou ses h i n t s of f r agr an ce 4711 w af t i n g acr oss t h e Ron cal l i p l atz. W i t h ot h er t ou r i st s, I ad m i r e Ri ch t el 's p i xel s of gl ass d i f f u si n g seven t y - t w o col or s on t o t h e f l oor of th i s goth i c cath ed r al , th e on ly st r u ctu r e l ef t stan d i n g af ter h u n d r ed s of A l l i ed bom bi n gs, on e ju st d ay s bef or e m y bi r t h . I p i ctu r e t h e en or m ou s ch u r ch i ts w i n d ow s bl ow n ou t , h ol es l i ke em p t y ey e socket s. Col ogn e t each es m e th at i n t h e sp ace of on e l i f et i m e w e can l i f t ou r selves u p f r om t h e r u bbl e of h at e, si t qu i et ly on a l at e su m m er d ay, si p i cy beer s at a tabl e ou t si d e Peter s B r au h au s.

A r tw or k : K i m Sosi n

M u i r W ood s A l i ce Cam p bel l Rom an o Rustic, unpaved, the H illside T rail is only wide a yard or so, sliced from the hill in 1908 as a fire line.

T r ees so t al l n o p h ot o takes th em i n , r oot ed i n t h e can y on f l oor , i n h i l l si d es too. At t h ei r base, gr een f er n - sp r ay s, an d d ead f al l w h i t e w i t h f u n gu s, w i t h l i ch en s. I w al k th e ed ge of t i m e, a t h ou san d y ear s an d m or e above m e an d bel ow, w h i l e th e r ed w ood sor r el p l an t , l i ke t h r ee- l eaf ed cl over , i t s gr een cl ean an d l i gh t an d sm oot h , sp r ead s by r h i zom es u n d er gr ou n d . A s t h ou gh t s sp r ead i n th e u n con sci ou s m i n d , of a p r om i se an d a k i ss, i n Cath ed r al Gr ove, d ecad es gon e. W h en tw o tr ees al m ost m eet on t h e t h r ee- f oot tr ai l , th ey l eave sp ace t o sl i p bet w een , or i f ti m e?s ed ge i s too sh ar p , to ch oose t h e f al l , d eser ved , to th e d i st an t gr ove.

A r tw or k : M i a Cl ay

L ov e l et t er t o t h e b est b ar i n Q u een s Fr an cesca H y att I t ?s r ai n i n g, bu t w e ar e n ot m ad e of su gar . I t ?s r ai n i n g so h ar d t h at th e br i gh t bl u e ed i f i ce i s a bl u r , an i n d i go ey e bath ed i n t ear s. B est i e an d I sh ake t h e w eat h er of f of ou r coat s, ou r h ai r , w e p i l e ev i d en ce of th e w or l d ou tsi d e i n a soggy h eap on a r ai l i n g by stai r s. D r u m beat s of th i s w or l d p u l l u s stage- w ar d w h i l e a m an si r en st i r s l on ely l on gi n gs f or an oth er . L ater , th e si r en m oti on s u s over to t i ck l e a jaw bon e. ?W e cou l d get m ar r i ed i n B er l i n ,? h e t el l s m e u p on l ear n i n g of m y or i gi n ju st m om en t s af t er m eet i n g. ?N ot becau se I w an t p ap er s bu t becau se of y ou r ey es,? h e con t i n u es. W h at can I d o bu t l au gh , aver t t h em , an d r el i sh t h e f eel of h i s br ow n s on m y bl u es. W e th r ee p ar t w ay s m er r i ly, m om en tar i ly, each i n sear ch of w h at w e n eed : bat h r oom s al l ar ou n d , t acos? h e (bu t w h er e), beer s w e i m agi n e h e?ll bu y f or u s, w h i ch l ater h e w i l l , bu t n ot u n ti l af ter B esti e an d I or d er ou r selves an oth er r ou n d an d m ake f r i en d s w i t h Er i k th e l esbi an f r om M i ch i gan . Per h ap s i t ?s at t h i s m om en t or p er h ap s l at er or p er h ap s bef or e th at t h e th i n sk i n of t h e r i gh t p ocket i n

m y r ai n coat on th e r ai l i n g by stai r s bu r st s op en , sp l atter i n g my v al u abl es am on gst f eet an d gr i m e. Key s, p h on e, l i p sti ck , oth er l i p sti ck , l i tt l e p ou ch w i th d esi gn er tam p on s, f r ee- f l oati n g Ad v i l . Bu t w e d on ?t k n ow abou t th at y et. W h i l e B esti e i s bu sy ban t er i n g w i th Er i k an d th e si r en i s bu sy bei n g m ay or of th e bar , I d an ce w i th a str an ger who sm el l s d el i ci ou s. W h en I tel l h i m I w on ?t go h om e w i t h h i m h e p u l l s m e cl ose an d w h i sp er - r oar s su p p osed ly sed u cti ve th i n gs i n m y ear . I p u l l aw ay. Som eh ow, I en d u p gi v i n g th e w h i sp er - r oar er my n u m ber , m y on e r egr et, bu t h e?ll n ever cal l , so w h o car es. Bu zzed an d h ap p y ar ou n d 3am Best i e an d I ar e on th e str eet , ai m i n g to h ai l a cab, w h en I sh ove h an d i n to p ocket an d d i scover em p ti n ess. B ack to th e bar , r eu n i on w i t h th e w h ol e l i st, h oor ay f or th e bar t en d er , h op e f or h u m an i t y r estor ed . T h e m an si r en th at sti r s d r eam s of p ar ad i se r i d es h om e w i th m e i n th e sof test an d m ost com f or tabl e p ar t of m y br ai n . ?I ?m so gl ad f or th e r ai n ,? I tel l B esti e as w e w ash i n t o sl eep .

A r tw or k : Geor ge L Stei n

A r tw or k : A sh l ey A l ex an d r a

Pay b ack Rob Sch n ep p I f i t w asn ?t f or t h e gap i n g h ol e i n h i s f or eh ead , t h e m an l ooked l i ke h e w as sl eep i n g.

h ead ston es. ?I n th e m i d d l e of th e n i gh t... r i gh t i n th e m i d d l e of th e h ead ??

?You can see t h e bu l l et en ter ed h er e,? sai d t h e M ed i cal Ex am i n er , k n eel i n g ad jacen t t o t h e d ead m an ?s sh ou l d er s. U si n g a bal l p oi n t p en f or em p h asi s, h e t r aced a ci r cl e i n th e ai r above t h e w ou n d , m i n d f u l n ot to con tam i n at e t h e l ocat i on . ?B ack of h i s h ead i s p r et t y m u ch gon e too.?

?T h i s gu y, ev i d en t ly.?

?T i m e of d eat h ?? A sked th e h u l k i n g Cou n ty Sh er i f f , t ak i n g r ef u ge f r om t h e m i d d ay su n beh i n d ol d sch ool Ray Ban su n gl asses. ?Ju d gi n g by t h e l i v i d i ty ? tw elve h ou r s or so.? ?T h at w ou l d m ake it abou t m i d n i gh t , t h en ,? t h e Sh er i f f sai d , scr i bbl i n g on a sm al l sp i r al n ot e p ad . ?A n y si gn of a str u ggl e?? H e asked , running th r ou gh a w el l - season ed m en t al ch eck l i st . ?N op e, n on e t h at I can see, bu t w e?ll l ook cl oser on ce w e get h i m to th e m or gu e. Ju d gi n g by al l th at over t h er e,? th e Ex am i n er sai d , p oi n t i n g t o th e bl ood an d bon e f r agm en t s scatter ed bey on d t h e bod y. ?L ook s l i ke a cl ose- r an ge sh ot .? ?W e?r e i n t h e m i d d l e of a cem et er y,? sai d th e Sh er i f f , a m an n ot ty p i cal ly su r p r i sed by m u ch at th i s stage of h i s car eer . ?W h o get s sh ot i n th e m i d d l e of a cem et er y,? h e sai d , su r vey i n g t h e su r r ou n d i n g v i sta of

T h e Sh er i f f sn or ted , seei n g th e si l l i n ess of h i s l ar gely r h etor i cal qu esti on , t h en m ov i n g on w i th th e ch eck l i st: ?See i f h e?s got an y I D on h i m .? T h e Ex am i n er com p l i ed , p u r p osely ch eck i n g t h e p ockets of d ead m an ?s jacket , th en th e w ool en Pen d l eton u n d er n eath . Fi n d i n g n oth i n g, h e gen tly an d qu i ck ly m oved on to th e p an t s. Fi r st, both f r on t p ockets, gen tly p at ti n g th e ou tsi d e of each on e bef or e su bm er gi n g h i s h an d i n si d e, ju st l i ke an ex p er i en ced p er son w ou l d d o. H e th en r ep eated th e sam e p r ocess i n th e back , f i n al ly p r od u ci n g a th i n bl ack l eat h er w al l et . ?T h i s th i n g i s l i ke a w af er ,? h e sai d , bl i n d ly h an d i n g i t back w ar d s over h i s l ef t sh ou l d er . T h e Sh er i f f took i t, p eel ed i t op en , r em ov i n g th e on ly th i n g i n si d e; a y el l ow scr ap of p ap er , sh ow i n g a n am e, h an d w r i tten i n th i ck bl ack l et ter s. ?Ph i l l i p T h om as,? sai d th e Sh er i f f . ?Com e agai n .? ?O n th e p ap er , a n am e, Ph i l l i p T h om as.? ?O d d .?

?I t cer tai n ly i s,? sai d t h e Sh er i f f . H e tu r n ed f r om t h e ex am i n er , t i l ti n g h i s h ead t o sp eak i n to th e m i cr op h on e of h i s p ol i ce r ad i o. ?Con tr ol , t h i s i s O f f i cer 1832, r equ esti n g back gr ou n d ch eck on a Ph i l l i p T h om as, Cau casi an m al e ar ou n d 40 y ear s of age. N o D O B or ad d r ess.? ?Cop y,? th e r ad i o cr ack l ed back . ?Stan d by.? T h e Sh er i f f t u r n ed back to th e Ex am i n er , st i l l scan n i n g f or cl u es ar ou n d th e d ead m an ?s bod y. ?N o w eap on ar ou n d ,? obser ved th e Sh er i f f , w av i n g h i s ar m i n a sw eep i n g m ot i on t o m ake h i s p oi n t. ?N ot sel f - i n f l i ct ed .? ?D oesn ?t l ook l i ke,? t h e Ex am i n er agr eed w i t h a gen tl e sh ake of h i s h ead . ?Bu t w e?ll ch eck f or gu n p ow d er on h i s h an d s to r u l e t h at ou t.? A m i n u te or t w o of si l en ce p ast bef or e t h e d i sp at ch er sp oke agai n . ?O f f i cer 1832 - con tr ol ,? sou n d ed t h e r ad i o. ?Go ah ead .? ?Be ad v i sed I h ave a Ph i l l i p T h om as, age 43, Cau casi an m al e. L ast k n ow n ad d r ess i n Cl evel an d . T h er e?s a w ar r an t ou t f or h i m D U I m an sl au gh t er . L ook s l i ke h e h i t a k i d on a bi cy cl e l ast m on th .? ?Cop y. A n y t h i n g el se??

?N ot th at I ?m seei n g,? sai d th e d i sp at ch er . T h e Sh er i f f tu r n ed back to th e Ex am i n er , su d d en ly stan d i n g bol t u p r i gh t, f aci n g a h ead st on e ju st 5 f eet p ast th e bod y. M or e bl ood sp l att er s d otted th e cl ean w h i te m ar bl e. T h e Ex am i n er w as si l en t, m ou th sl i gh tly agap e as i f h e w as abou t to sp eak , bu t u n su r e of w h at w ou l d com e ou t. H e sl ow ly r ai sed h i s ar m an d p oi n ted at th e ston e. T h e Sh er i f f , con f u sed , squ i n ted tow ar d th e Ex am i n er . H e l ooked back at th e d ead m an , th en sl ow ly r ef ocu sed on th e Ex am i n er . H i s ey es f ol l ow ed th e Ex am i n er ?s ar m , sl ow ly m ov i n g h i s gaze tow ar d th e h ead st on e. I n an i n st an t h e w as ju st as f r ozen . M ou th si m i l ar ly agap e, qu i cken ed p u l se, f eel i n g as i f h e w as i n st an t ly cast ou tsi d e h i s ow n bod y. T h e n am e Ph i l l i p T h om as w as n eat ly ch i sel ed i n t o th e ston e. N o m essage con vey ed to r est i n p eace or an y oth er ty p i cal gr avest on e m ar k i n g ? ?PO S? w as l i sted i n th at tr ad i ti on al ly l ov i n g p ar t of a h ead st on e. N o d at e of bi r t h l i sted . D ate of d eath ... T h e Sh er i f f r em oved h i s gl an ce f r om th e ston e, ch eck i n g h i s w at ch to con f i r m w h at h e al r ead y k n ew. ?Jesu s H Ch r i st,? h e m u tt er ed . ?T h at?s tod ay.?

Gar d en L an gu age K ath l een M cCoy W h y t h i s r egal f l ow er i s cal l ed vetch or p r e- f al l 's red clover w ear s p u r p l e as i t s f avor i te bl ou se, w h y t h e w h i t e l ace of Q u een A n n e tu r n s ou t t o be wild carrot, h ow th e p u r p l e of heal- alls h eal s al l , h ow yarrow sti r s th e m ar r ow, or y ou cal l h er a sh r ew w h o r u es meadow- rue, h ow w i th a qu i ck sh ove, t h e praying mantis str i kes an d su p s on h er n ew l ove as a bl ack- an d - bl u e white admiral f l u tter s on th e w al l ? i s h ar d t o say. O h , th i s l an gu age of i n sect an d f l ow er , t h ese ar t i cu l ati on s of stu t ter , of sp l en d or : h ow st r an gely sou n d s bed eck each l i ve w i l d ten d er bl oom i n t h e gar d en . Betw een w or d s an d th ei r p ow er ? bone meal an d lime, dung an d string an d stake? I w on d er , i sn 't t h e sou r ce of bot h h on ey an d sti n g p l en ty to p on d er ?

A r tw or k : Jen n i f er Cl ai r e Sm i t h

O l d T ea Jad e Rosi n a M cCu tch eon I t ?s a l ap san g sou ch on g k i n d of d ay w h er e ol d l eaves bl ow an d gr eat tr ees sw ay w h en th e bi r d s ar e gon e an d f l oor boar d s cr eek t h e p i p es i n ou r h ou ses ar e star ti n g to l eak . T h e n ei gh bor ?s f l ag i s bl u st er i n g w i l d d ecl ar i n g i t sel f l i ke a p r ecoci ou s ch i l d ?I ?m h ar d - w on an d gl or i ou s, f u l l of ol d w ar s l ook , can ?t y ou see m e I w an t som e ap p l au se?. T h e w i n d su d d en ly d r op s, I stop si p p i n g m y tea t h e f l ag ju st col l ap ses, i s i t f i n al ly f r ee of h av i n g to d an ce an d str u t, f or ced th i s w ay an d th at ju st l i ke sol d i er s ?a r at at atat?. L ap san g sou ch on g i s an ol d sm okey tea i n ven ted f r om w ar s betw een M i n g an d Q i n g d y n asti es l i ke Roqu ef or t ch eese i t su r v i ved d ead ly w ar s I sw al l ow a si p , th er e?s h eat at th e cor e. T h e w i n d ju st p i cked u p , ol d oak s m oan an d cr eak I ?m l et ti n g th e tea ju st si t th er e an d seep I l i st en to n ew s, m or e stor i es of w ar ol d tea an d ol d ch eese, l i m p f l ags h an gi n g, w h at f or ?

A T o ast A n n eM ar i e M i l es

A r tw or k : Gi u l i o Secon d o

T h e car d sai d , ?I th i n k I l ove y ou . W i l l y ou m ar r y m e?? I cou l d n ?t r ead i t , bu t m y m oth er ?s w or d s r an g i n m y ear s, r ecal l i n g th i s m om en t; ev i d en t ly sh e sai d ?Yes.? Cl i n k i n g h er w h i t e Z i n f an d el agai n st m y f at h er ?s w at er gl ass, alw ay s w ater , alw ay s af r ai d of th e secr ets al coh ol m i gh t r eveal , th e gap betw een h i s t eet h gl i n ti n g, con v i n ci n gly. I w an t ed to scr eam ? at th em bot h : ?H ow d ar e y ou ?!? H ow d ar e y ou accep t a br oken p r op osal ? H ow d ar e y ou p r op ose so br oken ly ? H ow d ar e y ou t oast to a f u tu r e al r ead y br oken ? I t w ou l d h ave been bett er i f th e gl ass br oke, or i f m y f at h er stay ed at th e sem i n ar y ; h e w ou l d h ave been good at i t , ch ar i sm at i cal ly sp ew i n g ou t h op e abou t a B ei n g w h o h ad n o w or d s t o d ef y h i m . A n d m y m oth er sh ou l d h ave w an ted m or e. Fool s, th ey w er e f ool s t o t h i n k th at h esi t at i on cou l d ever gr ow i n t o l ove. T h ey sh ou l d h ave l ef t ou r sou l s al on e, al l f ou r of u s; bu t th ey w er e stu bbor n , d eci d ed t o en sl ave si l en ce i n st ead . So I h el d m y p eace, l et th em toast, m y on ly object i on y ear s l ater w h en I w as f ou r : ?I f y ou d i d n ot w an t m e, w h y d i d y ou h ave m e??

L i t t l e Si st er 's Sal v at i o n T h om as L am ber t T h e t ast e of d i scon t en t d an ces on h er ton gu e l i ke a ch or u s of p r i ck ly d em on s. Sh e l eap s f r om l u r i d su bst an ce to sen sel ess sch em e w eav i n g a m an i c cr escen d o of h ap l ess d r eam s th at f ad e t o d i sap p oi n tm en t, as su r e as t h e ch i l d r en on h er h i p s, cr ed i t or s at h er d oor step , u n i n v i t ed w r i n k l es i n th e m i r r or . Give it all to Jesus!, a p ast y m an i n t h e t el ev i si on d ecl ar es? an d sh e d oes. Sh e sw al l ow s h i m d ow n w i t h r en ew ed h op e f or a sp eed y r ou t e to salv ati on , as sh e d i d w i t h cou n tl ess m en , cou n t l ess d i et s, cosm eti c su r ger y, ci gar et tes, cr ack cocai n e. N ow, l i t t l e si st er h as a m an si on i n th e sk y an d t h e p r om i se of ever l ast i n g l i f e. Sh e m ai l s a gi f t of f ai th each m on t h to a For t W or t h m i n i st r y w h o m assage h er f r ai l , d esp er ate h ear t . Sh e cal l s m e f r om Tol ed o to an n ou n ce h er p assage t h r ou gh th i s l i f e i s a m er e d r ess r eh ear sal : "A n au d i t i on , D ear Boy, f or a star r i n g r ol e at t h e f eet of t h e A l m i gh t y." ?W h at abou t t h e r en t ?? I i n qu i r e. "T h e good L or d w i l l p r ov i d e." I sen d h er a ch eck i n exch an ge f or p r ay er an d a p am p h l et ti tl ed , W here W ill You Spend Eternity?

A r tw or k : M or gan e X en os

Monsters! The following works are the winners of our 250-word monsters-themed creative writing challenge!

A r tw or k : Rach ael A l l en

I b ex C r y Ad r i an H ar te I sp ot on e som eti m es i n su m m er val l ey s ? i t s d u n n i sh coat m akes i t m or e d eer th an goat ? w h en th e sk i gon d ol as h ave l on g si n ce stop p ed an d ever y th i n g ar ou n d i s w h i te an d p i n k . H e sp ot s m e, w at ch f u l an d w ar y, as i f h e al on e m u st stop h i s k i n d f r om bei n g w i p ed ou t h er e agai n . I m ove cl oser an d tel l h i m th at I d on 't w an t h i s f l esh or h i d e. I am n ow cl ose en ou gh t o cou n t th e r i n gs at th e back of h i s h or n s. A s w el l as a m obi l e m ed i ci n e ch est , h e i s a tr ee on f ou r l egs. A n d I th i n k of d r i n k i n g f r om th ose m agn i f i cen t h or n s, bu t I 'm p r et ty su r e th ey w ou l d n 't d et ect p oi son i n m y p ar t i n g gl ass. I can cr u sh th em d ow n , t o a p ow d er l i ke th e sn ow f u r th er u p , to cu r e m y h y st er i cs. And? i f I d i d n 't h ave toes f or f i n ger s? I 'd car ve t h e r est i n to th at sn u f f box I 've alw ay s n eed ed . H i s ston y ex i sten ce w i l l be th e cu r e f or th e ston es i n m y bl ad d er , m y k i d n ey s, i n m y h ead . N ex t, I drink / an d w h y n ot u se th e h or n s as cu p s/ t h e w ar m th , t h e d el i cate cl ot tex t u r e, t h e f or bi d d en . N ow, I am cl ean , I am f r ee, an d I am a god w h o w i l l f east on th e i bex cr y f or cen t u r i es.

I n ci d am u s L i am M cCl oskey

A r tw or k : A n d r ew L i n col n N el son

A n an ci en t beast as col d as th e m et al of a gu n tr i ck l es i n t h r ou gh t h e cr ack s of y ou r sl eep i n g h om e. H e cr eep s u p y ou r st ai r s, on ly m ak i n g sou n d s w h en y ou d o. You r sp i n e f eel s h i m f i r st . You p au se. H i s si l en ce m i r r or s t h e su sp en d ed m om en t of a f al l i n g gl ass bef or e i t h i t s t h e gr ou n d . You tr y sp l ash i n g ch i l ly w ater on y ou r f ace. H e st an d s i n t h e m i r r or beh i n d y ou w i t h t h e n ose of a p i g, an d th e com p l ex i on of an ol d baby. You r t h r oat cr u n ch es l i ke san d u n d er t eet h as h e w r ap s h i s bi g w h i t e gl oves ar ou n d y ou r n eck . H i s ey es ar e th e col ou r of k i d n ey f ai l u r e, an d h i s teeth r esem bl e obsi d i an ar r ow h ead s. H e sm i l es con tor t ed ly at y ou r r ed d en i n g f ace. H i s i cy br eath sm el l s l i ke sp oi l ed gr av y an d i t

sti ck s to y ou r f r esh ly br u sh ed h ai r . You el bow h i m h ar d i n th e r i bs, br eak i n g f r ee f or a m om en t, bu t he gr i n s cr ooked ly, keep i n g y ou u n d er h i s sad i sti c gaze. H e p r esses h i s ben t an d bon y f i n ger u p to y ou r l i p s an d w h i sp er s, ?sh h h .? You bi t e d ow n on i t? h i s oi ly bl ood sp u r t s on to y ou r ton gu e an d i n n er ch eek . I t tastes of bl ack l i cor i ce an d y ou r m ou t h i s n u m b i n secon d s. H i s l au gh p i er ces y ou r ear s l i ke th e sh r i l l h ow l of a coy ote af ter a f r esh k i l l . H e f l ees. You h ave becom e d eaf . Bu t y ou can sti l l h ear h i m i n t er n al ly ? a f ai n t ech oi n g i n y ou r sk u l l , l i ke y ou ?r e stu ck w i th h i m i n si d e of a col l agen cu p as i t f i l l s w i th a f r eezi n g ch ar coal l i qu i d .

M ast er p i ece Ju p i t er L ogan W ei T h e st at u e?s ey es w er e st atu r ed at f i f t y f eet above th e f l oor . T h e f am i l i ar r ati os of th e bi g, l i f el i ke bod y f ol l ow i n g i n t h at w ay. T h e n or m al , u n r em ar k ably r em ar k abl e p r op or ti on s of a w om an . T h e f or m ed , m el l ow n eck , th e m i n or sem bl an ces of bod y f at. T h e l ook of m i l d cr eases on th e k n ees, l i p s, an d betw een t h e t oes. T h e on ly str an ge th i n g, seem ed to be T h e over si zed bu t n ot en or m ou s h an d s, casu al ly ak i m bo. T h e ar t i st p ai n ted a ch em i se over stu r d y sh ou l d er s an d i n cr ed i bl e h i p s. T h e n y l on s w i t h th e on e r u n . T h e ey es w er e m ad e of m ar bl e ston es th at sh on e l i ke p l an ets. T h e r est of h er : h or se bon es. T h e cr eator h ad am assed th em f or y ear s? h e?d p u lver i zed t h em , an d m an u f act u r ed a p l ast er . T h e l ocal p ap er h i n ted : h e w as m ad . T h e ey es, at f i r st om i tt ed , w er e ad d ed at th e en d : socket ed i n w i t h a p at an d a k i ss. T h e m u seu m s w ou l d n ?t take h er . T h e m aster cr eator l oved h er an d gave h er l i f e, l eap i n g l at e i n l i f e f r om h er h ead . T h e f u n n y th i n g i s: sh e begi n s to gr ow w i n gs. T h e on ly t h i n g sh e w an ts i s d i sast er . T h e aci d - p r egn an t w i n d . T h e u n cer tai n m u si c of cr ow d s cr u m p l i n g ben eath h er f eet. T h e r ed w ood f or ests sh e bu r n s w i t h h er ey es. T h e r i n gs of em p t i n ess th at op en to sw al l ow th e r eef s an d t h ei r ju m bl es of l i f e. T h e sm oke i n th e sk y, gr ow i n g l i ke m ol d on br ead . T h e beast s th at coo i n cou tu r e. T h e p ol i ce sh e gi ves f u n d i n g even as th e cr u st of th e ear th op en s l i ke t h e box f or a d i am on d r i n g.

A r tw or k : A l ek san d r a Ger em i a

Almost there... The following works are the winners of our 250-word "almost there" themed creative writing challenge!

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

T he H ike A n n al i se Gr ey T r ai l m ar ker th i r t y - f ou r gr eets

w i n d catch es m y h ai r as I take a

m e as I st u m bl e over a set of

seat on a f l at p or ti on of r ock n ear

m ossy st on es. ?A l m ost th er e,? I

th e t r ai l h ead . T h e su n sp r ead s

tel l Jessi e. ?W e?r e i n th e h om e

i t s gl ow i n g ar m s w i d e an d sett l es

st r etch .? T h e d ap p l ed l i gh t cast s

on m y d am p sk i n as I take i n th e

f ai r y - l i ke

v i ew. T h e gor ge bel ow str etch es

i m ages

acr oss

th e

sp ace.

on f or n ear ly a m i l e, th e w i n d i n g

W e?d t al ked abou t h i k i n g th i s m ou n tai n f or y ear s. Jessi e saw a

cr eek cu tt i n g a l ovely, gl i tt er i n g p ath .

p h ot ogr ap h of a su n set al on g th i s

M em or i es

r i d ge i n som e m agazi n e y ear s

betw een ?

ago. Sh e sai d i t r em i n d ed h er of

m et r o stati on th at d ay w e m et,

a d r eam sh e?d si n ce f or got ten . I

th e squ eeze of h er h an d as sh e

h ad n ?t

sh e

br ou gh t ou r tw o gi r l s i n t o th e

m ean t an d k i ssed h er w i t h a next

w or l d , th e w ay h er voi ce cr eaked

summer p r om i se. N ex t su m m er

w ith

f ol d ed i t sel f i n to y ear s as m y

f ai l ed r ou n d of ch em o.

u n d er stood

w h at

beau t i f u l w i f e?s d r eam w as set asi d e t o r ai se k i d s, bu si n esses, an d

sat i sf act or y

r eti r em en t

accou n t .

f ill

th e

sp ace

of Jessi e, l ost i n th e

w ear i n ess af ter

h er

I sl i d e Jessi e?s p h oto f r om m y back p ocket, tu r n i n g i t over i n m y p al m , l ett i n g su n l i gh t w ash over h er sm i l e.

I can f eel h er sm i l e th ou gh as w e cr est t h e f i n al bou l d er . A bu r st of

l ast

?W e f i n al ly m ad e i t, m y l ove.?

A l l i s L i gh t W h en I 'm W i t h Yo u Sar ah Rocca I ?ve n ever d on e th i s bef or e. N ever l eap ed i n t o a bod y of sh ad ow y d ar k n ess. U su al ly w h en I l eap , i t ?s i n t o br i gh t , w h i t e, f l u f f y sn ow. I avoi d w at er as i f i t ?s aci d . N ow, bei n g f u l ly su bm er ged i n f oggy, sal ty w at er , I m u st ad m i t, I r egr et ju m p i n g. T he ocean is a n ever - en d i n g bl an ket of p i er ci n g f ear . Bu t I h ad n o ch oi ce! Sh e ju m p ed , so I f ol l ow ed . H er toes l ef t th e d ock , an d I ju m p ed i n bef or e I cou l d even h ear h er sp l ash . I cou l d n ?t l et h er go i n to th e u n f am i l i ar w i t h ou t m e, w i t h ou t m y p r ot ect i on . For I w as alw ay s th er e f or h er , n o m att er h ow u n k n ow n . N o m att er h ow scar y. M y h ead goes u n d er , an d I gu l p

th e w ater . A l l at on ce, l i qu i d f i l l s m y m ou t h , m y n ostr i l s, an d m y ey es. I t?s an en gr ossi n g sen sati on ; th e d ar k n ess, th e w etn ess, th e w ei gh tl essn ess. I f eel a f l eeti n g gl i m p se of f r eed om , w i th n o gr ou n d ben eath m e, n oth i n g h ol d i n g m e back . I p ad d l e to h er . I ?m over com e w i t h con f i d en ce, w i th ever y p u sh , ever y p u l l . Sh e y el l s f or m e, I h ear h er voi ce, I f eel h er p ad d l i n g tow ar d m e. I d i p u n d er th e w ater to sh ow h er m y n ew d el i gh t . I w an t h er to ch er i sh my exci tem en t w i th m e. Togeth er . ?You ?r e al m ost th er e!? sh e say s, as I br eak th r ou gh th e su r f ace, an d tou ch my p aw s to h er ou t st r et ch ed h an d s.

A r tw or k : K ath l een Ph al en Tom asel l i

T w i l i gh t Passage Fr an ci s Fl av i n I t t ook t h e ol d m an a l on g ti m e

th e

t o set t l e h i m sel f d ow n on th e

p en etr at ed

l i t t l e k n ol l .H i s bod y, r av aged

u n d er gr ow th .

f r om

ap p ear ed

over u se,

i l l n ess,

did

i n ju r y n ot

an d easi ly

accom m od at e an y p osi t i on .

en d of t h e d ay w as a d ai ly r i t u al .I t w as a h eal i n g ti m e to si gh ts,

i n si gh ts

an d

f eel i n gs. T h er e at th e ed ge of

l on ger

th e

f or est

T he

w i th ou t

d eer

sou n d

th ei r p r esen ce; sh ad ow s on th e ed ge of sh ad ow s, el u si ve an d ep h em er al bei n gs tr ead i n g th e ed ges

u n ti l

bet w een

d ar k n ess

ou t er

on ly

sh ad ow s

r em ai n ed . T he

an d

ap p ar en t m ovem en t? as i f a

t h e f or est th ey w er e p oi sed i n n er

su n

cu r t ai n w er e l i f ted to r eveal

Sh ar i n g t h i s qu i et ti m e at th e

sh ar e

sett i n g

boy

w atch ed

u n ti l

sw al l ow ed

th e

w or l d s? w or l d s of r eal i t y an d

w ood l an d scen e, an d th e h oot

i m agi n at i on th at w ou l d sof ten

of a n ear by ow l an n ou n ced

an d

n i gh t ?s ap p r oach i n g d om i n i on .

m er ge as th e d ay

f el l

gen t ly i n t o d u sk .

A bsor bed i n th e cal l s of th e

A s w as t h ei r h abi t, w h en th e su n sl i p p ed n ear th e h or i zon al l con ver sati on ceased , an d t h ey w ai t ed f or th e d eer to ap p ear . I n t h e si l en ce th e boy 's m i n d w an d er ed . H e w as on ly f ai n t ly aw ar e of th e ol d m an 's

w h i p - p oor - w i l l , n i gh t

h er on ,

an d th e f r ogs i n th e n ear by m ar sh , i t w as a sever al m i n u tes bef or e

r eal i zed

th at

cou l d n o l on ger h ear l abor ed br eath i n g. T h e l ast sh ar d of th e su n ?s af ter gl ow r etr eat ed to th e w est . T h e ol d m an h ad

l abor ed br eat h i n g.

gon e h om e. A f t er a w h i l e th e l ast r ay s of

WRITERS June Chadwick, 24, uses they/them pronouns and graduated from the University of North Texas in 2021. Eryn O'Neal's fiction, satire, and poetry has appeared in DUM DUM, High Shelf Press, Glass Mountain Magazine, Defunkt Magazine and an anthology edited by feminist writer, Ariel Gore. In 2019 she received the Lillie Robertson Prize in creative nonfiction for her work, “Rape Cris-ish,” a satirical piece highlighting problematic societal and institutional responses to sexual violence. Her zine, Essential Oils to Destroy the Patriarchy: Remedies Formulated for Modern Women (& 1000year-old witches) was published by Microcosm Publishing in 2020. Jérémi Doucet is a Canadian fiction writer and poet. His writing has appeared in Maisonneuve, Contemporary Verse 2, Archetype Magazine, and several anthologies. He currently lives in Southern France. Dick Altman writes in the high, thin, magical air of Santa Fe, NM, where, at 7,000 feet, reality and imagination often blur. He is published in Santa Fe Literary Review, American Journal of Poetry, riverSedge, Fredericksburg Literary Review, Foliate Oak, Blue Line, THE Magazine, Humana obscura, The Offbeat, Haunted Waters Press, Split Rock Review, The RavensPerch, Beyond Words, Sky Island Journal and others here and abroad. A poetry winner of Santa Fe New Mexican’s annual literary competition, he has in progress two collections of some 100 published poems. His work has been selected for the forthcoming first volume of The New Mexico Anthology of Poetry, to be published by the New Mexico Museum Press. Walker Zupp is a Bermudian poet and writer. He splits his time between Cornwall and Bermuda. His debut novel, Martha, was published by Montag Press in 2020. Mark Williams' poems have appeared in Beyond Words, The Southern Review, Rattle, Nimrod, and The American Journal of Poetry, as well as other journals and anthologies. Kelsay Books is publishing his full-length manuscript of poems, Carrying On, this year. He carries on in Evansville, Indiana. Brian Stoll’s work has appeared in Fleas on the Dog, Scarlet Leaf Review, and Beyond Words. I am a graduate of Towson University with a Bachelor of Science in English Literature looking to find a home for some of my poems. Jo Lamm writes to stay grounded in, as well as to escape from, reality. She’s a former psychologist currently running a business called tula soul. The word tula means ‘balance’ in Sanskrit, ‘wind’ in Finnish, and ‘poem’ in the Philippines. At tula soul, Jo is a holistic healer working exclusively with women, combining Eastern and Western medicine to heal mind, body, and spirit. Her mission is to help women find balance, boldly use their voice, and proudly take up space. Since she’s a passionate activist, Jo also volunteers for the organization Humanize My Hoodie, which works for social equality and abolition.

Janet McMillan Rives resides in Tucson, Arizona. She retired as professor of economics from the University of Northern Iowa. Her poems have appeared in Lyrical Iowa, Ekphrastic Review, Sandcutters, The Avocet, Unstrung, The Blue Guitar, Fine Lines, Voices from the Plains, and Facing West. Alice Campbell Romano thinks of herself as international: she lived in Italy where she adapted Italian movie scripts into English. She returned (with a dashing Italian movie-making husband) to the Hudson Valley where she workshops her poems at the Hudson Valley Writers' Center. Her work has been published in the U.S. and England; she was a finalist in The Atlanta Review's Poetry International. Francesca Hyatt is a writer, translator and adjunct professor of English. She has an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from CUNY-Queens College and is an assistant editor at KtB Magazine (https://killingthebuddha.com/) as well as co-founder and editor of Clotheslines, a new literary journal. Her chapbook Forestwish was published by Ghostbird Press in May 2022. Rob Schnepp is a retired Fire Chief from the San Francisco bay area with 50+ articles appearing in fire service and emergency medical services peer reviewed journals, such as the Journal of American Nursing, Fire Engineering Magazine, Domestic Preparedness e-journal, and The White House Newsletter. He is in the 4th edition of a textbook titled Hazardous Materials, Awareness and Operations, from Jones and Bartlett publishing. The 3rd edition of his book is the recipient of the Ben Franklin Writer’s Award, 3rd place, from the National Fire Heritage Center in Emmitsburg, MD. Kathleen McCoy teaches college writing in upstate New York. Her poetry has been short-listed and long-listed for international prizes including the Fish International Poetry Prize, the Discovery Prize, the Dana Awards, the Book Excellence Awards, and a Fulbright. Her books include Green and Burning, More Water Than Words, and Ringing the Changes and her blog is The Real McCoy: A Take on Poetry. Australian born Jade Rosina McCutcheon lives in Salem, Oregon. Her poetry has been published in several anthologies and journals. She has been awarded the Kay Snow Poetry award, her chapbook 'SMALL FEATHER’ was published by Finishing Line Press, October 2020. Currently engaged in an ‘artist/poet’ residency with the Salem Arts Association and an artist’s residency with Dorland Mountain Arts Community in June, 2021. Doctor of Creative Arts from UTS and a PhD from Melbourne University. AnneMarie Miles is a mother, a published poet, a children’s music teacher, and a forever student. When she isn’t writing, AnneMarie is doing yoga, dancing in the kitchen over some deceptively easy vegan meals, cuddled up with the family, or buried in a book somewhere, completely unavailable to the world. Thomas Lambert was born and raised in the Midwest, USA. A former U.S. Marine and Desert Storm veteran, he studied Philosophy and Creative Writing at The Universities of Kansas and East Anglia. His poetry has been featured in Pearl, Di-Verse-City, Bluing The Blade, The American Dissident, Hole In The Head and other publications. Thomas lives in Dripping Springs, Texas with his two daughters.

Adrian Harte is from Monaghan, Ireland but has lived in Switzerland for 25 years. His biography of rock band Faith No More was published in 2018. Since then, he has focused on poetry. Liam McCloskey's work has appeared in Black Bear Review, Bywords, Vocal, Capital Current, and in David Allan Hamilton's collection: A Father's Love: And Other Stories. He graduated from Carleton University's Bachelor of Journalism program. He's a rock climber, a tree planter, and someone who doesn't believe in writer's block. Logan Wei has worked with patients, students, and people enduring homelessness. Logo's poetry has appeared in The Offing, grist, The Notre Dame Review, Pedestal Magazine, and a few others. Once, L. got a "Best of the Net" nomination, which he found very funny. Annalise Grey is a Pennsylvania native, dreamer, explorer. She writes because she likes talking to the voices in her head. Her work has been featured in Allegory Ridge and Tiny House Magazine. Sarah Rocca lives in Chicago with her fiancé and golden retriever puppy. An advertising copywriter by day, and avid coffee drinker by night, Sarah loves telling, crafting and exploring the stories of her characters and the world's most popular brands. She was first published at the age of 16 for writing a non-fictional story about a legless Ken doll named Bob-No-Legs. Francis Flavin’s work has appeared in Poetry Quarterly, Blueline, Pacific Review, Blue Collar Review, La Piccioletta Barca, Three Line Poetry, The Closed Eye Open and Tempered Runes, among others. His poetry and prose have received recognition in the Soul-Making Keats Competition, Chicagoland Poetry Contest, Working People’s Poetry Competition and the 2020 Writer’s Digest awards.

VISUAL ARTISTS Cover art: Mia Holberg, Incessant Spin of the Paradoxical Thought. Mia is a junior at Tomball High School and she participates in swimming, water polo, and, of course, AP art & design. Lauralee Sikorski, Organized Confetti Dream, 16x20, pastel on paper. Lauralee is an artist currently living in the United States. Her art has been shown throughout the United States as well as London and Berlin. She attributes her eclectic style to her being a certified meditation yoga teacher since 2004. Rita Malenczyk, Wabi Sabi #1. Rita is a writer, painter, and printmaker living in Tolland, Connecticut. She is also a professor of English at Eastern Connecticut State University, where she teaches many students who are the first people in their families to go to college. Laura Pamenter Flowerpot Island. Laura is in her final year at Western University in Ontario, Canada. She is currently studying Media, Information, and Technoculture, with a double minor in Film Studies and Creative Writing. Laura has been creating art her whole life, and has used painting as an outlet for her mental health. She has also worked as a commissioned artist, mostly for pet portraits, which can be viewed on her Instagram: @laurajane.art Tarini Tipnis is 17-year-old contemporary artist. A painter, poet, and musician, Tarini embraces nuance in her work, striving to bring contemporary light to age-old topics like feminism, gender and family. Her work has been featured as a part of the AI-AP 40 Magazine for contemporary illustration. Claire Gordon is a chainsaw-wielding poet and painter located on Vancouver Island. She works in the backcountry of Strathcona and Cape Scott Provincial Parks, where she likes to take photos. Her written work has appeared in Canadian Yogi, The Navigator, and Portal Magazine. windflower, Maggie. windflower lives on the Mendocino Coast in Northern California with her wife, border collie and mini-aussie. Her camera is a door into a journey of light and color and meditation - and a connection with the poetry in nature and her own spirit. Her work has been shown in several exhibits and publications. V. Kavi, Into or Out of the Unknown. V. Kavi is a British Indian painter, poet, philosopher and playwright, born in the UK to Sindhi parents. Kavi's work is a fusion of Eastern values mixed with a Western presentation exploring the workings of the mind, identity, and the environment. Currently, a DPhil candidate at the University of Oxford researching ecophilosophy, Kavi’s poetry and paintings are inspired by ancient (hi-)stories (lithiasis), contemporary poets and folklore. Johanna Porter, I See You. Johanna was born and raised in Miami, FL. Her career includes over three decades of working in the realm of graphic design and art direction. In 2019 Johanna relocated her studio to Seattle, WA and began creating artwork more relevant to her personal growth. Visit her on Instagram @PicturesWithin

Kim McNealy Sosin, Cologne. Kim is Emerita Professor of Economics at the University of Nebraska Omaha. Examples of where her poems and photographs have appeared include Fine Lines, Failed Haiku, Daily Haiga, Voices from the Plains, Landscape Magazine, The Heron’s Nest, Wanderlust Journal, Ekphrastic Review, Raw Art Review and Sandcutters. Mia Clay, Let the Light In. Mia is a genderqueer artist living in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She loves pretty colors and cool lines. She aspires to put them together in many different ways. George L. Stein is a photographer from northern New Jersey (US) focused on art, street, urban and rural decay, alt/portrait and surreal genres. He has appeared before in Beyond Words as well as in Nunum, Fatal Flaw, Wrongdoing Magazine, and Tofu Ink Arts. Online, georgelstein.com and on insta, @steincapitalmgmt Ashley Alexandra, A Nearly Perfect Day. Ashley is an emerging abstract mixed media artist in Alberta, Canada. Ashley is from a family of a wide variety of professional artistic talents. Caught up in decades of education and the professional career grind, the pandemic and the inception of motherhood brought Ashley back to her artistic roots of doing something for the sheer love of it unobstructed by requirements. She has a passion for her family, animals and the outdoors – all of which, influence and inspire the evolution of her artwork. Jennifer Claire Smith is a lifelong creative painter, writer, and lover of literature. With beginnings in New England, Jennifer has been living in the Charlottesville, Virginia are for the last 35 years. Giulio Secondo, A Wine Alone. Jacopo Bosio (aka Giulio Secondo) is an Italian artist, born in Rome and based in Berlin where he works as an illustrator. His artist name is inspired by the figure of the Italian pope who commissioned the Sistine chapel. The focus of his work is the expression of physicality and interpersonal relationships and a journey through the complexity of their boundaries. Morgane Xenos is an artist based in Austin, Texas. She developed a passion for painting while studying at the Art Students League in New York City where she learned how to oil paint. While in New York she worked as a stop motion animator assistant and learned the fundamentals of being a freelance artist. Making her way back to Austin, she joined a group of artists specializing in livepainting events. Morgane is pursuing her dream to create for a living and building her portfolio of artwork. Rachael Allen, Strange Dream #7. Born and raised in Portland, OR, Rachael continues to love painting after 35 years. Her paintings are like strange dreams that unfold on the canvas in a lucid and intuative way. Color, negative spaces, line and texture become the langugage that shapes these haunting dream worlds. Andrew Lincoln Nelson, OsteoBorg 1, graphite on bristol drawing board, 18 x 24 in. Born 1967, Andrew is an artist working in Arizona. His work includes detailed drawings of creature-like machines and strange plants in barren or alien landscapes. This artwork explores biologytechnology fusion, time and distance scaling and micro-macro depth perception.

Aleksandra Geremia, Space Ghost. Russian born and Brooklyn based. Aleksandra takes her love for nature and expresses it through acrylic. Her inspiration combines natural, cosmic and psychedelic patterns to create deeply colorful scenes. Her background in Architectural design and classical art serves as a foundation for her work. https://www.chechelshura.com/ Svetlana Goubanova, View of Earth from Europa (the Pale Blue Dot). 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. Carol Arscott, Majestic. Carol is a pet photographer based in Media, PA. She creates custom, highend albums and wall art of pets and their people. Carol has also been active in the rescue community for over 7 years as a volunteer photographer, giving dogs and cats professional photoshoots to help them find their furever families. She shares her home with her four sons, 2 rescue dogs, 1 rescue cat, a lizard, and multiple fish. Kathleen Phalen Tomaselli, Lives of the Dead. Kathleen is an artist living on a small pollinator farm in Northern Maine USA along the New Brunswick Canada border. Her award-winning writing, photography, paintings and sculptures have appeared in newspapers, magazines and international literary magazines. She’s currently juggling several artistic projects while planting buckwheat, sweet peas and barley.

Contents 0 1 Seat tl e Ju n e Ch ad w i ck 0 2 O d e t o m y f i r st M ol esk i n e Er y n O 'N eal 0 4 T h i n gs To D o on a T i n y I sl an d w i t h a Si n gl e Cocon u t T r ee Jér ém i D ou cet 0 6 T h ou gh I T r y t o For get D i ck A l t m an 0 8 H i tti n g t h e W al l M ar k W i l l i am s 10 O n e d ay I 'l l f i n d i t Br i an St ol l 12 Ey es Jo L am m 14 Col ogn e Jan et M cM i l l an Ri ves 16 M u i r W ood s A l i ce Cam p bel l Rom an o 18 L ove l et t er t o t h e best bar i n Q u een s Fr an cesca H y att 21 Pay back Rob Sch n ep p 23 Gar d en L an gu age K at h l een M cCoy 24 O l d Tea Jad e Rosi n a M cCu tch eon 26 A Toast A n n eM ar i e M i l es 28 L i ttl e Si st er 's Salvati on T h om as L am ber t 30 M O N ST ERS Ch al l en ge i n cl u d i n g Ad r i an H ar te, L i am M cCl oskey an d L ogan W ei 36 A L M O ST T H ERE Ch al l en ge i n cl u d i n g A n n al i se Gr ey, Sar ah Rocca an d Fr an ci s Fl av i n

Beyond Words I nternational Literary M agazine

I SB N 9 78- 3- 9 4 89 77- 4 4 - 3