Beyond Words Literary Magazine, Issue 33, February 2023

Issue 33 February 2023

Beyond Words A r tw or k : Sh an n on By er s Fogl e

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 33, Febr u ar y 20 23 Ed i tor : Gal Sl on i m Ed i tor i al B oar d : Kel ly Sar gen t, D i l i an a St oy an ov a, Cal l u m Fou l d s, Kev i n Z w i er zch aczew sk i

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 t i n g, Febr u ar y 20 23 I SBN 978- 3- 948977- 51- 1 h ttp s:// w w w.bey on d w or d sm ag.com

O d e t o B l ack H o o d i e T u cker Br y an t You w al k i n g qu i l t of w ar m th an d cool . You p h an tom f r i en d , m ou th w i th ou t m em or y.

W h en cl u m sy h u n ger l eaves y ou f r eck l ed w i t h scal d i n g oi l , tu r m er i c d u n es, y ou h u sh stai n s; of f er a h om e i n m y m i st akes w h er e I am n ever r em i n d ed .

A p ai r of h an d l ess w r i sts h ol d n o gr u d ges y et y ou str etch to cu p k n ees; a sn u g h u gger at ever y si ze. I sl i p i n si d e y ou an d f eel ever y i n ch of m y sel f cover ed i n p al m s.

You r gen t l e sw ar m .

W h o k n ew th at th i r t y - f i ve bu ck s cou l d get m e al l of th i s? Cotton p u n ch i n g bag sw al l ow i n g str eet sl u r s sl u n g by str an ger s; d ol er of h u gs I am too p r ou d to ask m y m oth er f or ; th e gi f t of d i f f u si on af ter d u sk , i l l u si on of i n v i si bi l i t y an d gr an ter of w i n d w al k s w i th ou t w i n ces. A com p i l at i on of h i d e an d seek m om en t s on r ep eat , m e as a boy si d l i n g i n t o th e cl oset an d f i n d i n g m y f ath er ?s ch osen f u r , h oi sti n g i t above l ow er case l i m bs, si gh t - r ead i n g m y l i n eage w i t h m y n ose an d f eel i n g m y sel f d i sap p ear i n to th e sw eet, f r agi l e n ot h i n g of a k i d - d u m b Su n d ay d ay d r eam .

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O cean Gr ov e V i ctor i a M ack Au gu st 26.

T h e su n p ou r s l i ke l em on ad e.

T h e san d bu r n s. I squ eal , h op p i n g t o t h e w at er ?s ed ge on m y toes.

T h e ocean m akes r oom f or ou r l egs, ou r w ar m bod i es. O u r ch att er an d n oi se m i x w i t h th e cal l of th e gu l l s above.

I w ear a cor al on e- p i ece, y ou y ou r y el l ow tr u n k s. W e ar e l i ke br i gh t f l ow er s i n t h e d ar k w at er . T h e w i n d an d w ater d an ce, flamenco, f u l l of p assi on an d v i ol en ce.

Su d d en ly a w ave l i f t s m e an d h u r l s m e on t o th e h ar d san d bel ow.

I com e u p l au gh i n g, m ascar a r u n n i n g, cl aw i n g th e w et san d , an k l es qu i ver i n g.

You l au gh too, to see m e over p ow er ed .

T h e w at er sp l ash es i n to ou r op en m ou t h s.

W e ch oke, th en l au gh agai n . T h e si l en ce of t h ese l ast sad m on th s i s gon e, w e sp l ash an d y el l l i ke ch i l d r en .

T h e w aves ar e l i ke w i l d h or ses, sh ak i n g th ei r w h i t e m an es i n th e su n .

T h ei r w ater y h oof beat s tr am p l e m e, sh el l s an d ston es cu t m y sk i n an d t h e sal t sti n gs th e w ou n d s.

T h e joy of i t . To gi ve i n . To gi ve u p .

I am p i n k an d r aw, I sti n g al l over .

I am f or gi ven , bath ed i n th e w or l d ?s sh ar p tear s? bu t n ot m y ow n , n ot th e i n cessan t p oi n t l ess w eep i n g of th e l ast si x m on th s.

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A seagu l l ci r cl es over h ead , h i s y el l ow ey es l i ke p i eces of ci tr i n e, h i s cal l l i ke th e cr y of an i n f an t . H e i s so beau t i f u l I w an t to gr ab h i s tai l an d f ly w i t h h i m .

T h e w aves h i t agai n , I cr ash on t o th e f l oor of t h e w or l d , th en str u ggl e to m y f eet. I w i p e m y ey es an d l ook f or y ou , bu t y ou ar e f ar aw ay n ow. So m u ch th e better .

I qu i ver w i t h i n th e ocean ?s gi an t m u scl es.

I t h ol d s m e i n i t s ar m s. At th i s m om en t I cou l d sh att er i n to a m i l l i on d r op l ets an d f i n al ly f i n d m y w ay h om e.

A r tw or k : M el i sa Sm i th

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A r tw or k : Jen n i f er Jean O k u m u r a

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T h e W ed d i n g Ri n g Ter r i H an au er I t r i ed on m y m oth er ?s cl oth es.

Sh e w as al r ead y i n th e gr ou n d ly i n g besi d e m y f ath er so I d i d n ?t th i n k sh e?d m i n d .

I t w as th e d r ess f r om th at p h otogr ap h f r om h er tw en t i es i n Pr agu e?

I t w as bl ack an d w h i te i n th e p h ot o, bu t em er al d gr een to m e w i th l on g sl eeves an d a th i n bel t ar ou n d th e w ai st .

I t r i ed on th e sh oes? h eav y bl ack th i ck str ap s an d h eel n y l on s w i t h a seam d ow n th e back .

Sh e h ad a gol d toot h so I p u t th at on too.

I l et m y h ai r w ave l i ke h er s w i th tw o cl i p s p u l l i n g th e si d es back . an d a bl ack h at w i th a th i n n et vei l .

H er st r i d e w as l on g an d str on g.

Sh e h ad n o i d ea w h er e sh e w as h ead ed .

I h ear d l au gh ter bu t i t w asn ?t com i n g f r om t h e l i v i n g r oom ? i t w as t h e n ei gh bor s n ex t d oor stan d i n g on t h ei r back p or ch w at ch i n g m y sh ad ow th r ou gh t h e p u l l - d ow n sh ad e.

I cr ou ch ed d ow n an d l ay on t h e f l oor f or h al f an h ou r , sh ak i n g.

T h ey w en t back i n to t h ei r h ou se n oth i n g m or e t o see.

For m y w ed d i n g I w or e m y m ot h er ?s r i n g th e on e sh e car r i ed t h r ou gh t h e cam p s th e on e t h at h el d t h e br i l l i an ce of th e w om en w h o cam e bef or e w i t h i n i ts f acet s?

I m ar r i ed t h em al l .

T h ey p u t t h ei r ar m s ar ou n d m e an d h el d m e cl ose.

Tod ay I w ear m y m ot h er ?s k i n d n ess? at l east I t r y t o?

O h , an d I t h ou gh t y ou sh ou l d k n ow th e n ei gh bor s ar e al l d ead .

W h en I w as ten I stood i n f r on t of h er d r esser w i th th e r ou n d m i r r or .

I t w as ei gh t o?cl ock m i d d l e of Ju ly an d Ed Su l l i van w as on an d I took of f m y cl oth es an d p u t on h er p ear l s an d h er si l k gl oves an d h er l ace bl ou se.

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W ed d i n g Vow s Gi n n y Su l l i van after Jane H irshfield, "I f the Rise of the Fish" 1.

T h e tw o of t h em stan d i n g i n th e m i d d l e of t h e r i ver , h e i n bl ack , sh e i n a br i gh t sal m on col or ed t op , si d e by si d e, f i sh i n g i n a f l at w ood en sk i f f ? th e w ay th e l i gh t h i t s t h em ju st f or a m om en t .

I can ?t see t h e boat ? th ey ar e w al k i n g on w at er .

2.

Ter n s scr eam , sh ar p - ed ged l i ke a p ap er cu t , t h e r i ver f u l l of f og.

A l l th ey ar e i s w h i t e, th ei r d esi r e f al l i n g u p w ar d , t h en f ly i n g d ow n on to t h e f ace of t h e w at er , f i sh scat t er i n g l i ke gr i ef d i ssolved i n su n l i gh t.

T h e ter n s ar e h u n gr y, th e w at er bl u e- bl ack i n th e sh ad ow s an d gr een i n th e sl an ted si d e r i p p l es t h at f l ow ou t w ar d f r om bou l d er s al on g t h e sh or e. Si n ce ear ly m or n i n g th ey ?ve been st r i k i n g th e su r f ace l i ke bl ossom s of l i gh t , op en i n g an d cl osi n g l i ke br eath br eath i n g th r ou gh w ater , t h r ou gh ai r , th r ou gh l i gh t.

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A r tw or k : Rach el M u l d er

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En am el D ar agh H oey Fr u i t br u i ses w h en y ou ?r e n ot l ook i n g, a sof t sp ot of d y i n g or d ead su gar an d seed s t u r n s su n ken an d u n l ovely.

T h e sk i n i s bor n cap abl e of gr eat l ove, gr eat r esi stan ce l i ke a sen t r y w ar n i n g: D o not cross this line becau se on ce y ou cal l som et h i n g sp oi l ed , th er e i s n o com i n g back .

Bu t h er e I st an d at th e m i r r or an d cu r ate an d n am e an d l oat h e m y l i m p an d bu m p y back an d w r i sts, each l i n e an d p ock of m y u n l ovely br u i se of a bod y, i gn or i n g t h e w ar n i n g.

I t i s m y f au l t m y ch est gi ves i n to th u m bs l i ke a ban an a.

I d i d n ?t p ay at ten t i on .

Bu t m y t ooth i s br u i sed , too, d u l l ed f r om th e d ay th at Jess N or t h cu tt r an h i s h ead i n to m y m ou th at f u l l sp eed on t h e sch ool p l ay gr ou n d an d sever ed ever y n er ve i n m y i n ci sor s. T h i s en am el ? f l i n t of th e m ou t h , cast an d com p r essed over m or e l i f et i m es th an m y ow n , m y f am i ly ?s f ossi l r ecor d , th e an i m al s of m y p ast an d p ath h u n ch ed an d si l en t an d p r essu r ed i n to ston e? i s th e h ar d est su bst an ce i n m y bod y bu t i t can br u i se an d I am n ot to bl am e.

T h ese ar e m y f at h er ?s teeth , th i n n i n g an d sep ar ated , f i l l i n g m y m ou t h l i ke a bon e com b.

T h e on e I bor r ow ed f r om h i m , an d h e l et m e keep , w i th w h i ch I com b m y bear d each m or n i n g an d I cl ean i t an d p u t i t aw ay an d sm i l e w h en I r em em ber t h e d ay h e gave i t to m e.

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A r tw or k : L u i s Rosa Val en t i n

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A p p l e f r o m t h e ap p l e t r ee (A r ch et y p al A n x i et y ) L i n a Bu i v i d av i ?i ? t?

I t?s so ver y l ou d an d th e w al l s ar e cl osi n g i n , th ose d ay s I r em em ber t h e w om en of m y f am i ly ? th y r oi d d i sor d er , t h e d esi r e to r u n th r ou gh f i el d s ? i n f ear of som et h i n g, i n l on gi n g. I l i ve i n r el at i vely cal m t i m es ? th er e?s alw ay s w or k f or th e br ead k n i f e on m y tabl e, I h ave cl ot h es to cover m y sh am e an d a w ar m bed . T h ou gh , d esp i te al l of t h e escap i st t h eor i es, th e m ed i t ati on s or gan i zed d u r i n g t i m es of l of ty cal m , m y br eat h i n g sti l l gr ow s h eav i er ? r egar d l ess of h ow m an y ti m es y ou ch op th e f am i ly w om en ?s tr ee, h ow m u ch sl u r r y y ou p ou r on th e r oots I ap p ear i n t h e sh ad ow, f al l en object, d am p scen ts of t h e n i gh t , str an ge aw aken i n gs, r ep eti t i on s ? h ow m an y p oem s h ave been w r i tt en abou t col d f i n ger s of f ear th at p u l l ou t th e w ar m sl i m y l u m p of col l ect i ve d r eam s ?

I am an ap p l e f r om an ap p l e tr ee, I ?m cr u sh ed an d p r essed i n t o t h e i ce of gl ass jar s, I am th e m ost f r agi l e p r eser ved sp eci m en , I f l ow ou t of t h e t r ep an ati on h ol e of th e gl ass th r ou gh al l of t h e sh am an i c sp el l s of tr em bl i n g.

T ranslated from Lithuanian by Ada Valaitis

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A r tw or k : L ay l a V l ad i

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C r ab b i n g Ch l oe Bau san o Ju n e 27th , 20 0 3, i t ?s 5:26am an d I si t n est l ed besi d e a bu cket of sea- w ater tw o th u m bs d eep , p er i od i cal ly p eer i n g over th e ch i p p ed bl u e p l asti c cor n er at t h e p al e p i n k back s of sof t- sh el l cr abs.

I n ever y p i ctu r e I ?ve d r aw n of a cr ab u p u n t i l th i s p oi n t i n m y ch i l d h ood , t h ey ?ve been f i r e- en gi n e r ed , cl aw s ex ten d ed t o p i n ch , gr asp i n g at m i n n ow s ju st ou t of r each bey on d t h e ed ges of th i ck p ap er th at com es i n sar an - w r ap p ed sh eaf s.

Sm al l h an d s cl asp ar ou n d th e back en d of a d am p r op e, an d I w at ch t h e su r f ace of th e w at er f or r i p p l es - bated br eath as w e aw ai t a tu g f r om u n d er th e su r f ace, m y f ath er si t s besi d e m e w i t h a cu p of d ar k r oast cof f ee, h al f - an d - h al f , gu i d i n g ou r acti v i t y th r ou gh th e ear ly f og w h i ch coat s t h e beach an d cocoon s th i s m om en t i n t o a v i gn ette.

A s th e sk y sh i f t s f r om gen tl e bl u e m i st i n to a h on ey f i l ter ed m i r r or of t h e sea, an d th e back of m y n eck begi n s to p r i ck l e w i th su n l i gh t t h at r ef l ect s of f u m br el l a p ol es of y ou n g f am i l i es stak i n g ou t p or t i on s of th e beach , w i t h l i tt l e k i d s w h o w ou l d n ?t sl eep i n , an y w ay s, w e r etu r n ou r cr abs to th e p on d .

T h ey scu t t l e aw ay f r om tr an sl u cen t sh al l ow s an d i n t o th e op aqu e gr een f i el d s of seaw eed an d al gae, r ever si n g th ei r ear l i er gr ap p l e u p th e sof t sl op e of th e sh or e an d i n to ou r w ai ti n g n et.

I sti f l e a y aw n as t h e ear ly star t begi n s to set tl e, p u l l i n g th e l i ttl e bl u e bu cket d ow n t h e beach , w h i l e m y d ad h oi sts th e ch ai r s an d tow el s over h i s sh ou l d er . H e gr abs th e ot h er h an d l e of th e bu cket, an d w e m ake ou r w ay back to th e tr u ck .

A r tw or k : M y r i a Ch r i stop h i n i

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A r tw or k : GJ Gi l l esp i e

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T h e A n em o n e Ben jam i n Rose Slava Rohani.

W e bor e h i s bod y bey on d th e p al i n g A s ou r gr een stan d ar d f l u tt er ed i n th e w i n d , A bove th e p r ocessi on a si lver h or se Ram p an t on th e f i el d as th ou gh i n battl e Su r vey i n g u s, an d n o on e m ad e m u r m u r ; N o w om en keen ed or cr i ed al ou d ; n o gr oan s O f h ear t br eak an d h op el ess l am en tat i on Su l l i ed th e ai r i n a sh ow of sor r ow.

At th e step p e?s ed ge, w h er e th e an em on e Gr ow s on th e gr aves of th e l or d s of m y h ou se, W e l ai d h i s bi er i n a ston y bar r ow A l on g w i t h th e ar m s h e bor e i n th i s l i f e W h en w i t h h i s sp ear an d h i s gl i tt er i n g m ai l H e l ead h i s br ave éored ou t to w ar U p on th e p l ai n s w i t h th e f i en d s of th e East A n d w on th e W estf ol d f r om ou r en em i es.

A l as! T h at y ou sh ou l d l eave u s, T h eod r ed , N ow w h en th e W h i t e H an d en ci r cl es u s al l A n d U r u k s u n ch al l en ged , k i l l i n g at w i l l O n ever y h i l l an d i n ever y h am l et H ar r y m y p eop l e beat en d ow n w i th f ear O f th e com i n g d oom , an d th e Gr ey Pi l gr i m B r i n gs m e ti d i n gs of f i r e an d th e sw or d To th e gol d en ? sh i n gl ed h i gh ? gabl ed h al l .

T h e ban n er w aves, an af f r on t to M or d or So l on g as th e m en of Roh an ar e f r ee, T h ou gh ou r bod i es l i e br oken i n th e d u st W i th th ee, or u n d er th e bl asti n g f i r e O f I sen gar d ?s m ad m an ar e r i p p ed ap ar t A n d p u lver i sed i n th e i r on - scar r ed ear t h .

Yet al on e w e h ol d th e f r on t. I t i s ou r s.

W e ar e th e v an ; th er e w i l l com e n o oth er s.

N ow I w i l l w eep m y f i l l i n secl u si on Fr om th e p u bl i c ey e, as bef i ts a k i n g W h o m u st keep d i gn i ty, u n d er th e h aze O f th e r ed gl ar e of a w ester i n g star .

U p on h i s tom b l i es th e Ever m i n d , Simbelmynë, th e w h i t e an em on e.

B ey on d th e r ock ?h ew n gr aves of m y f ath er s T h e en d l ess gr assl an d str etch es i n t o n i gh t.

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A f t er C al cu l at i n g t h e Pr o b ab l e A ge o f M y D eat h El l en D evl i n ap r i cots br eak or an ge & i l l u m i n at e f l i gh t p ath s r ow s of h ou ses ap p ear p acked t i gh t on a cl i f f

d oor l ess

& th e su n sp i ts at th e th atch ed r oof s r ebu i l t f or cen tu r i es

a h at l ess m an

si ts i n th e op en m ou th ed d oor w ay & p u l l s bead s f r om an abacu s t h e l aw s of M oses y aw n d r op d ai si es f or t h e k i d s w h o stu ck th em i n gu n s a br oken - d ow n Bu i ck cl i m bs a r oad w i th a m oon & I am a str oke oar sou n d i n g

a sm al l h ou r w ai t i n g f or

a su bw ay car w i th a l au gh t r ack

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A r tw or k : L aw r en ce Br i d ges

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A r tw or k : Sh er ee Ray f or d

L o n g Go o d by e D av i d W ater s I f eel i t i n m y bon es. T h at?s n ot ju st a f i gu r e of sp eech . I h ave bon e m et ast ases u p an d d ow n m y sp i n e an d t h e p ai n h as com e back . I h ave h ad 5 r ou n d s of ch em o i n 7 y ear s an d t h e on col ogi st w i l l h ave som eth i n g n ew to p r op ose, sh e alw ay s d oes, bu t I am too w ear y to go t h er e. A n d w h en I say I ?m n ot goi n g t h er e, I m ean I ?m l eav i n g. I h ave accu m u l at ed 119 ox y con t i n p i l l s i n 2 bott l es h i d d en at th e back of m y u n d er w ear d r aw er . I f y ou get r ad i cal su r ger y f or ad v an ced p r ost at e can cer , y ou w i l l en d u p w i t h a bi g u n d er w ear d r aw er , tr u st m e.

Tom or r ow af t er n oon af t er L u cy goes t o l u n ch w i t h h er f r i en d A n d r ea I w i l l op en an ol d bot tl e of Cay m u s cab an d l i e on th e ch ai se l ou n ge on t h e d eck , i n th e l ee of th e w i n d , w i t h a l ar ge gl ass of Per r i er an d a l i m e, w ear i n g m y th i ck bl u e Yoji Yam am oto tu r t l en eck an d m y f avor i te jean s. I w i l l st ar t w i t h 3 ox y s f or p ai n r el i ef .

I w i l l w atch t h e tu r key v u l t u r es ci r cl e i n t h e u p d r af ts on th e ot h er si d e of t h e v al l ey. I w i l l l eash th e d og so h e w on ?t ch ase th e r af t er of w i l d t u r key s t h at m ay am bl e by. I w i l l si p m y w i n e. A sh r ou d of gr ay f og w i l l cr eep u p th e v al l ey f r om m y r i gh t as t h e af ter n oon u n f ol d s,

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l i tt l e w i sp s br eak i n g of f an d f ly i n g by. T h e sh ad ow s w i l l l en gt h en , u n f l atten i n g u n d u l ati on s i n th e l an d scap e, an d I w i l l obser ve i t al l , at p eace. I l ove th i s p l ace. I w i l l i n gest al l m y p i l l s an d f ad e ou t. ?Fr an ces, I ?m back .?

L u cy gl i d es to th e oth er si d e of th e k i tch en i sl an d , ou t of r each . Sh e k n ow s th at a h u g w ou l d w r ack m y m oth - eaten sp i n e w i th p ai n , bu t d oesn ?t k n ow th at I cr ave on e an y w ay. ?D i d y ou get an y t h i n g f or d i n n er ?? sh e ask s. ?Yeah , I w en t to B r u n o?s an d got h i m to cu t m e a d ou bl e- t h i ck p or t er h ou se. W e sti l l h ave som e f en n el p ol l en , so I w as goi n g to d o a steak Fl or en ti n e on th e gr i l l .? I p i vot aw ay f r om r ed m eat, ?I t w i l l go n i ce w i th a bott l e of B ar ol o, an d a k al e sal ad .? ?Fr an ces, I th ou gh t w e agr eed th at w e w ou l d cu t back on r ed m eat.

You k n ow i t?s n ot h eal th y f or u s. I t?s bad f or th e en v i r on m en t too.? ?Yeah , w e d i d f or su r e an d i t w as a w i se d eci si on . Bu t w h i l e stan d i n g i n B r u n o?s I f el t a car n i vor ou s i m p u l se an d cou l d n ?t r esi st . Bu t af t er th i s, l et?s go vegetar i an f or a m on t h .?

N egoti at i n g with L u cy h as becom e t ed i ou s. H ow d i d i t get t h i s w ay ? I r em em ber back at th e begi n n i n g, 20 y ear s ago, th er e w as l ots of sex . W e assu m ed th at n o on e el se i n t h ei r 50 ?s d i d i t as w el l or as of t en as w e d i d . A f ter t h e su r ger y, sex st op p ed abr u p tly.

For a w h i l e, t h at d r ew u s cl oser .

Bu t th en ever y r ou n d of ch em o an d ever y r el ap se seem ed to p u sh L u cy aw ay. N ow sh e i s cl oser to A n d r ea t h an t o m e. I gu ess sh e i s ju st l ook i n g t o h er f u t u r e.

D u r i n g d i n n er L u cy w at ch es th e n ew s on t h e l i t t l e T V i n th e cor n er of t h e k i tch en . Sh e ex p l od es i n t o a p r of an i ty - l aced d i atr i be ever y f ew m i n u t es at th e i n ju sti ce an d st u p i d i t y of i t al l . I m u r m u r agr eem en t . Sh e i s r i gh t of cou r se, bu t i t al l seem s em p ty n ow. W e h ave f ou gh t f or th e sam e cau ses f or d ecad es, an d n ow th ey ar e sl i p p i n g aw ay t oo. ?W h at d i d y ou an d A n d r ea d o t od ay ?? I at tem p t con ver sat i on .

Even tu al ly L u cy excu ses h er sel f . I savor th e l ast of th e B ar ol o.

O u tsi d e t h e n i gh t ly f og h as set tl ed i n , th e w i n d h as d i ed , an d al l i s bl ack n ess. M y back st abs m e an ew w h en I get u p t o l et th e d og ou t .

H e an d I h ave est abl i sh ed r i t u al s an d take p l easu r e i n h on or i n g t h em . W e both sm el l f or sk u n k s

bef or e I r el ease h i s col l ar . H e tr ot s of f to p ee an d I step of f th e d eck .

Yel l ow i sh l i gh t s str u ggl e to p i er ce th e f og. I f eel gh ostly.

L i ke a gh ost I cl i m b th e stai r s si l en t ly. L u cy h as f al l en asl eep i n bed w at ch i n g a f i l m on h er i Pad .

T h e ju m bl ed i m ages jer k an d sl i d e si l en t ly acr oss th e w al l s an d cei l i n g. I st r oke h er h ai r on ce, l i gh tly, so as n ot to w ake h er .

T h er e i s so m u ch beau ty i n th e w or l d . I h u r r i ed th r ou gh m y l i f e w i t h ou t p ay i n g en ou gh att en ti on to i t , an d n ow l i f e i s over . W h o w ou l d h ave th ou gh t i t w ou l d en d l i ke th i s f or m e?

I sl i p si l en t ly d ow n th e stai r s an d back ou t on to th e d eck to be en vel op ed by bl ack n ess agai n .

Fr om f ar aw ay I h ear th e cr azy r oost er th at n ever cr ow s at d aw n , cr ow i n g. I m i gh t even m i ss h i m . I sh ou l d l eave a n ote, I th i n k . A n ot e i s i m p or tan t, I gu ess. Even th ou gh I w i l l be d ead , I w an t to l eave a good i m p r essi on . I w i l l ex p r ess l ove, an d r egr et.

I l ean back agai n st th e w al l to ease th e p ai n i n m y back , an d l ook u p to w h er e th e star s sh ou l d be. I am stan d i n g at th e en d of m y l i f e, an d th at k n ow l ed ge f i l l s m e w i th aw e. I w i l l w ai t a f ew d ay s, bef or e cr ossi n g over .

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A r tw or k : D i l l an L ad n er

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B i n go N i gh t @ Fau st i n o?s Fu n er al Par l o r D i ck A l tm an T ry before you buy i s h ar d ly th e an th em f or a f u n er al p ar l or , cer tai n ly n on e th at I k n ow. Bu t D ar i o Fau st i n o h as ot h er i d eas. I t el l y ou t h i s becau se ju st th e ot h er d ay, I r ecei ve a p ost car d ? cl ear ly jok i n g? ad d r essed t o m y f am i ly living or dead.

Fau sti n o?s Fu n er al s & Cr em at i on s, i t say s, i s h ost i n g an i n tr od u ct or y gal a an d h op es m y f am i ly, br eat h i n g or n ot , w i l l att en d Fau st i n o?s Fi r st A n n u al Bi n go N i gh t . D i n n er w as el ev ated f r om f r ee t o com p l i m en t ar y. W i th p r i zes f or l u ck y w i n n er s. Gr an d p r i ze: A p l ot f or tw o, w i t h st u n n i n g v i ew s, at th e l ocal cem eter y. O r , i f y ou ?d r at h er go u p i n sm oke, a br on ze- p l at ed u r n etch ed w i th th e w or d s Bingo, You?re D ead!

T h e n i gh t al so f eat u r es an af t er - d esser t Pow er Poi n t t i t l ed Getting a Jump on D eath: Free T ips on H ow to M ake Your Final T rip Out of T his World.

D ar i o r em i n d s u s at th e en d th at sp ace i s, af ter al l , l i m i t ed , so get on board by making your reservations today. W e al l l au gh , k n ow i n gly I m u st say, w h en h e begi n s to p i tch Fau sti n o?s ear ly - bi r d sp eci al s: Gr an i t e h ead st on es st ar r i n g y ou r f avor i te car em bl em , y ou r f avor i te Sn oop y f i gu r e, th e f u l l ly r i c t o y ou r f avor i te m ake- ou t son g, a sen sor - act i vated au d i o of L eon ar d Coh en r asp i n g D ance M e to the End of Love, al m ost an y th i n g a m i n d at r est cou l d t h i n k of . D ario, I say w h i l e l eav i n g, scratch on my headstone? ?As he rose in smoke at dusk, his restless syllabic spirit continued to seek the last word to a perfect ending?. N ot to be ou t d on e, Bi n go M an r ep l i es,You poets? get a life!

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A r tw or k : L ou Stor ey

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Kindling A l i sh a W al d r op I t i s i n t h e w ay w i n d m oves t h r ou gh f u r on t h e n eck of a car cass. H ow I r u n m y f i n ger s t h r ou gh i t , l et f ol l i cl es h i t th e i n n er w ebs of sk i n l i ke I u sed to d o w i th M a?s sh ag r u g. T h e d r i ed bl ood on t h e bu ck h ar d en s, f u ses t h e f u r i n sp ot s n ear t h e sp i n e an d d ow n th e l eg. I k n ow w h at i t ?s l i ke t o be d u st . W h at i t ?s l i ke to be f or gotten . T h i s r em i n d s m e ever y t i m e.

h i m cl ose an d sh ow h i m th e ey es.

M ake h i m r u n h i s h an d acr oss th e h ead an d see i ts beau ty, even i n d eat h . U se ever y p ar t . N oth i n g goes to w ast e.

I w as th i r t een w h en I d i scover ed m y m ot h er w as gon e. T h at sh e cou l d n ever r eal ly be, bu t w ou l d alw ay s r eal ly be, m y m oth er .

L abel s ar e d an ger ou s th i n gs. T h ey com e w i t h ex p ect ati on s th at som e p eop l e w i l l n ever m eet bu t p r ov i d e no m iddle gr ou n d .

T h er e?s n o w or d f or som eon e w h o f al l s sh or t .

H ar m com es i n al l f or m s, th ou gh .

L eaves i m p r i n t s th at n ever l eave u s. W h en h e i s d on e, I w atch h i m star e at th e k n i f e th en cl ean ever y sp ot w i t h w ater f r om h i s can teen an d p an t l eg. H e l eaves n oth i n g f or h i m sel f to d r i n k . H e w al k s of f w h i l e w e w ai t, d i gs th e k n i f e i n t o th e gr ou n d an d keep s goi n g d ow n .

H e p u sh es d eep u n d er th e r oots of a w i l d f l ow er p at ch w i th h i s h an d s an d eases th em ou t of th e d i r t, keep i n g th e r oot sy stem i n t act .

W h en h e w al k s back , h e takes th e l on g p ath f ar th er u p th e h i l l to avoi d th e bu ck , th en r ests th em i n m y h an d s. D eep bl u es an d r ed s.

L i gh t y el l ow. B r i gh t agai n st m y cal l ou sed p al m .

I l ear n ed h ow t o sn ar e a r abbi t w i th br ass w i r e an d sti ck s i n ou r back y ar d . W e at e ot h er th i n gs, too.

A f ter sh e l ef t , I w as abl e to m ake i t t en m on t h s bef or e som eon e r eal i zed I w as al on e.

By seven t een I h ad l ef t th e gr ou p h om e. At t w en t y - on e I h ad a ch i l d of m y ow n . Son s br i n g w i t h th em bu ckets of ad v i ce f r om r an d om m en . I p u sh ed i t aw ay an d tau gh t h i m to k i l l a bu ck w i t h a bow.

Ri f l es ar e f or t h ose w h o w an t a p i ctu r e m or e t h an t h ey n eed th e m eat.

I p r ay h e w i l l n ever n eed to h u n t as a m an . Bu t , ju st i n case, I p u l l

?W e ar e h er e to get by w i th th e l east h ar m p ossi bl e.?

H e n od s an d u ses th e bl ad e to bl eed h i m . O u t h er e, th e si l en ce i s a coal i ti on of sm al l er sou n d s? toget h er , th ey cr eate n oth i n g.

I k n ow n oth i n g, an d I can n ever k n ow en ou gh . T h e tr u th al m ost br eak s m e. ?I ?ll p l an t th em i n th e back y ar d f or th e bees,? I tel l h i m . ?H ead back to th e tr u ck .?

H i s ey es w ater . B l ood r u n s d ow n th e h i l l .

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A r tw or k : M ax Stew ar t

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M y Fat h er 's Ro o m M ay a N en a D esn aci d o N an p ei Z or i es? sti ck y an d sti n k y an d st i l l p r essed i n p l ace by y ou r t oes an d t ou ch Basket bal l tr op h i es, basketbal l jer sey s, basket bal l m ed al s, basket bal l s Fl i gh t ti ckets th at y ou l ost 10 y ear s ago W or n - ou t con cer t stu bs, w i t h w or d s t h at I can ?t u n d er st an d ? p r obably f r om som e 80 s ban d U gly H aw ai i an p r i n t sh i r ts t h at y ou t ol d m om y ou t h r ew ou t Vod k a (em p ty ), n ex t to can s of Can ad a D r y (al so em p t y ) Cr azy Ri ch A si an s f r om Ch r i st m as ?19, st i l l t u cked i n si d e r ed & gol d & gr een You sti l l h aven ?t r ead i t, h u h ?

Ru bbi sh , d ead r oach es, r eck l ess p u r ch ases? t h e w or k s Sake p ack aged f an cy i n Jap an ese box , op en ed bu t u n t ou ch ed Toen ai l s an d toen ai l cl i p p er s an d t oen ai l s, bleh K i n d w or d s w r i tten on ol d bi r t h d ay car d s f r om t h e t h r ee of u s, p l u s m om Good y bags f r om al l th ose god d am n gol f - t ou r n am en t s D r aw i n gs of u s th at I d i d as a k i d N ot gon n a l i e, su r p r i sed y ou ?ve kep t t h em af t er al l t h ese y ear s X er ox p ap er . O n e w or d : w h y ? ?Ear t h , W i n d , an d Fi r e: Gr eat est H i t s? al bu m , scr at ch ed bu t st i l l w or k i n g Let?s Groove Tonight (dun dun dun) Share the Spice of Life (dun dun dun) Pl ay s i n m y h ead , i n y ou r voi ce M en u s, so m an y m en u s O ver - u sed u n d er w ear (Tom m y H i l f i ger , ju st l i ke y ou l i ke) Joi n t p ai n su p p l em en ts? agai n , al l t h at basket bal l H i ckor y sm oked beef jer k y, y ou r f avor i t e. A r oad t r i p essen t i al t h at n o el se ever l i ked Q u ar t er s an d p en n i es an d n i ckel s an d d i m es A p i ctu r e of tw o boy s? on e of t h em l i ke m e bu t w i t h a st r on ger jaw an d bu st ed n ose ?I w on d er h ow ou r l i ves w ou l d ?ve been i f sh e n ever l ef t u s. M ar k an d Ted d y, 1975?

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H o t Past o r al A l ex Stan l ey T h er e i s a l i gh t i n th e d eser t th at com es on af t er th e cact u s w r en si n gs at op i t s sagu ar o h om e, w h en th e qu ai l ar e em bol d en ed t o f l u tt er i n th ei r w ake, p ear l str okes bl u r th e m ou n tai n si d e.

Scen ts p ar ad e d ow n w i n d , d ow n w ar d p ad d ed p aw s ad d a qu i ck r h y th m to th e n i gh t son g.

I am a l i gh t i n th e d eser t t h r ou gh ar r oy os p asses cu tti n g r i d ges.

I cl ear th e l oose r ock s I h ave stu m bl ed . I beat m y ch est , h ow l as th e coy otes n ear .

L eave n o f ootp r i n t, th e sage k n ow s th er e i s l i f e i n th e sh ad ow s, d an ci n g i n th e bon e- d r y r i ver bed .

I t h as n o en d an d n o sou r ce, bu t d i g an d si p to p r ol on g som et h i n g l on g an d gr ow i n g w i t h each n i gh tf al l .

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

M et u ch en M el t Em m a Rosem ar y Jaqu es Stan d i n g on t h e t op l evel of th e em p ty p ar k i n g gar age, w e su r vey ou r sm al l k i n gd om , l ean i n g over t h e con cr et e bar r i er to see ju st a l i t t l e bi t f ar t h er .

T h e con st r u ct i on si te bel ow u s sm el l s of m et al an d f r esh ly t u r n ed d i r t, th e scen t r i d i n g on th e w aves of w ar m ai r f r om t h e f i r st r eal h eat w ave of th e su m m er .

T h e sl u sh i es w e bou gh t at 7- 11, m el t i n g sl ow ly i n th e su n , l ook gar i sh an d cl ow n - l i ke agai n st t h e r aked gr ay con cr et e.

W e star e p ast t h e gr i d of su n - f ad ed str eets l i n ed w i t h sp ar se gr een tr ees ou t to t h e h or i zon , w h er e t h e l i gh t seem s to br eak i n st ead of ben d i n g.

W e i m agi n e w e can al m ost see M an h at t an , h azy an d m i r age- l i ke i n th e h eat, d ar k an d gl i m m er i n g above th e tr eel i n e.

W e ar e t h e l or d s an d l ad i es of d i n er - r i d d en su bu r bi a, sp r ead ou t bef or e u s l i ke a bu t ter f ly p i n n ed to a cor k boar d .

W e tr y t o f i n d m ean i n g i n th e sal t of th e sw eat th at d r i p s d ow n ou r f or eh ead s an d st i n gs ou r ey es.

T h e i n er t i a of su m m er h an gs over u s l i ke a bl an ket, op aqu e an d p r ot ecti ve.

W e can n ot see t h e w or l d w e ar e bu i l d i n g bu t w e can f eel i t s h eat on ou r f i n ger ti p s, cal l i n g u s f or w ar d s.

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A r tw or k : A m el i a Pr escot t

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M ar gi n s o f Sel f A k h i l M u l gaon ker T h ou gh t l eaves an d ex p er i en ce en ter s t h r ou gh a p assage cl ose at h an d , n ot som e ar can e r ecess or ex al ted cor r i d or bu t a w el l - w or n , i n i m i tabl e p ath .

I t cr i sscr osses th e i n ter i or of th e m i n d , t r aces t h e f r am e of th e bod y, m ov i n g f r om th e sou l t o t h e l i m i n al sp ace of br eat h , sep ar at i n g th e ai r w i t h i n , i n f u sed w i t h l i f e- gi v i n g ox y gen , f r om t h e ai r w i t h ou t , p er m eated by d eat h - t h i cken ed f u m es.

I n n er t r u th m eets tan gi bl e r eal i t y h er e, i n t h i s m ar gi n of p h y si cal i ty, i n t h e sp ace betw een t h e f am i l i ar an d str an ge, m e an d y ou , u s an d ever y t h i n g el se.

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A r tw or k : H eath er T h om as

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M éd u ser .

M i ch el l e A l ex an d er ?I am beau t i f u l an d m or t al ! l i ke a d r eam of ston e?

O u t of t h i s t att oo sh e br eath es, u n d er m y sh eet s, an d so m oves al on g h er r i bs w h at r ead s of B au d el ai r e?s ?B eau ty ?i n i t s Googl e T r an sl ati on ? i n h er ear l i est ver si on s, p er h ap s, M ed u sa?s star e w as h on ed to over w h el m d el i cately. N ot y et ston e. A n ti ci p ati n g th e d r eam of st on e w h i l e as sof t ly as t al c betr ay s, cr u sh i n g p er f ect ed boy s. Sl ay i n g ever sl i gh tly f i x ated t h ou gh t s of T r u th , p h i l osop h i cal obsessi on s p op u l ar u n d er t h e azu r e of A n ci en t Gr eece.

Sh e l ook s af t er t h e d r eam A n d w h en sh e l ook s I am beau t i f u l d r i f t ed f r om l egen d as on an i n f l ated sw an I am m or tal A n d com e as br oken as th e w at er 's su r f ace.

A r tw or k : Er i n Cr oss

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O d e o n M al e Pat t er n B al d n ess Jack son D ou gl as Sm i th after Alen Ginsberg I w i sh t h at I w er e bal d A f u l l h ead of h ai r i s ju st su ch a bu r d en Ju st f i gu r i n g ou t w h at to d o w i t h i t of a d ay : To br u sh or t o com b?

Bl ow - d r y, t ow el d r y, or ai r d r y ?

A n d h ow m an y t i m es d o I r ep eat af t er I l ath er an d r i n se?

Con d i t i on er ?

W h at even i s con d i ti on er ?

Pr od u ct or n o p r od u ct?

Som e p r od u ct ?

W h at even i s p r od u ct?

I s p r od u ct con d i t i on er ?

A n d d on ?t even get m e star t ed on get ti n g i t cu t: Cl i p p er s or sci ssor s?

A r en ?t t h ose t h e sam e d am n th i n g?

H ar d ed ges or sof t ?

W h at t h e h el l i s an ed ge?

To f ad e or n ot t o f ad e?

Fad e?

W h at p r i ce col or ?

W h at p r i ce sh am p oo?

N ot to m en t i on t h e en d l ess sm al l tal k A n d th e i t ch y h ai r t h at f al l s d ow n y ou r sh i r t .

Bu t oh , i f I w er e bal d M y br i gh t an d l u m i n ou s p ate Resp l en d en t i n t h e f l u or escen t l i gh ti n g O f m y l i t t l e cor n er of f i ce Sh i n i n g l i ke a p ol i sh ed bel l Resp ect r i n gi n g i n th e voi ces of m y u n d er l i n gs A n d m y p eer s H el l , I bet t h ey w ou l d even star t cal l i n g m e si r Sir, can I get you a coffee?

Very funny, sir!

Sir, could we talk about a raise?

Sir, can I polish your head for you?

Sir, you remind me of my father!

Sir, are you my angel?

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In TheMorning...

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

A r tw or k : Svetl an a W u n n en ber g

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i n t h em o r n i n g H en r i etta T h om p son bu t i n t h em or n i n g th e br i gh t boat r ever se d an ced i n i ts ow n w ake. r ay s p en et r at ed th e sk y f og cr ossi n g m i d t ow n scr ap er s as i f to p l ease th e d r eam er s. br ook ly n tr eel eaves w h i st l ed by h e tou ch ed m y h ai r , w e su cked th e cof f ee, an d i si gh ed , bef or e t h e w i n d bl ew m e h om e.

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

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C o f f ee L ov e L i sa O ch oa ar om a d eep an d d ar k , r each es, str etch es, sw i r l s th r ou gh th e d aw n l i ke th e r em n an ts of a d r eam w r ap s m e i n f am i l i ar ar m s gen tly p r od d i n g, ar ou si n g, w h i sp er i n g sw eet n ot h i n gs l i ke a besotted l over p r om i ses abou n d i n y ou r r i ch , com f or ti n g bou qu et , f r agr an t w i t h n ew begi n n i n gs, f r esh p ossi bi l i ti es soot h i n g w ar m th con sp i r es w i t h th e ti ck i n g cl ock , cr eati n g m om en t u m , f or ci n g m e to f ace m y sel f y est er d ay ?s sou r an d stai n ar e w ash ed aw ay by y ou r br i gh tn ess, t em p er ed by y ou r sw eet n ess, m ak i n g r oom f or m or e

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A r tw or k : Ch r i stop h er Gh at tas

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A r tw or k : Su h a A l At tas

I n t h e L i m i n al M o (u )r n i n g A l i son D av i s Can y ou h ear m e? N on e of u s asked to be r ecr u i t ed i n t o th i s n i gh t ti m e r i gam ar ol e. N o m an tr as or br eat h s cou n t ed or t r aci n g of th e m oon ?s p er i ch or esi s can save m e f r om w ak i n g

i n t o th e m or n i n g I d r ead . T h i s i s th e season w h er e t h e bi r ch i n t h e n ei gh bor ?s y ar d i s ver m i l l i on by seven an d am ber f i ve m i n u t es l ater , an d I ?m th e on ly on e I can sh ar e i t w i t h . So

I m i gh t as w el l cel ebr ate i t, sol i tu d e sl ath er ed al l over m y st i l l - h er e sou l . L ove an d l oss h ave p r oved th ei r r el at i v i ty on t h i s ear t h .

St i l l , I tr y to si n g on key, ly r i cs of som et h i n g u n con d i t i on al

I on ce tasted : forever f or th i s bod y i s an attem p t bl essed t o f ai l ; d ef i n i t i ve d oesn ?t ex i st i n th ese cel l s. I stu m bl e to th e k i tch en t o t ake t h e t i n ctu r es an d bow d ow n . T h ose w i th som e r oots of ten d er n ess ben eat h al l t h e st r ai n

w i l l seek m e ou t. I bu r n i n a f r esh f i r e an d str u m m y sel f op en .

H ar d en ed h ear t s, bew ar e of th e l i gh t str eam i n g ou t of m y h an d s.

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L au n d r y Ro u t i n e Far ezk a S.P. D ay l i gh t sh ow er ed th r ou gh th e

gave h i m m i l l i on s of ti n y k i sses.

h i gh cei l i n g, p i er ci n g th r ou gh

I t tickles, h e th ou gh t, m i ssi n g

th e cr ack s an d sp l i n t er ed w ood ,

th em w h en th ey d ep ar ted , as h e

r u sh i n g h i s ey es t o op en . H e got

scr u bbed h i s d i r ty l au n d r y an d

u p f r om t h e sh am bl ed m at tr ess

h ead ed back h om e to d r y th em .

at seven p ast f i f t een , or at l east w h at t h e sh at t er ed w al l cl ock tol d h i m . I t act ed u p a f ew ti m es, bu t n ot h i n g a l i tt l e el bow gr ease cou l d n ?t f i x , as som eon e on ce f r equ en t ly sai d .

O n th e w ay, ey es w ou l d of ten gl an ce at h i m bef or e tu r n i n g th e w ay. H e d i d n ?t k n ow w h y th ey kep t d oi n g th at or w h y th ey l ooked al l f an cy an d stu f f . N ever d i d h e car e, excep t f or th e f ew

T h e w at er ket t l e boi l ed , p ou r ed

occasi on s w h en som eon e gr eat

over a r am en cu p to star t th e

an d tal l w ou l d com e to h i m ,

d ay, f ol l ow ed by t h e r ou ti n e of

ben d

com i n g

th er e, w h at ar e y ou d oi n g??

bath i n g

d ow n

th e

u p on

r i ver col d

an d y et

r ef r esh i n g w ater . I t f el t sooth i n g

d ow n , an d

?D oi n g

l au n d r y,?

ask , ?H el l o

he

of ten

an sw er ed .

l i ke th e d ay s of ol d , w h en th e gen tl e ar m s of som eon e h e on ce

A n d ever y ti m e th ey w ou l d en d

k n ew scr u bbed u p on h i s scr u f f y

up

h ai r . N ever m i n d t h e f i sh es th at

p ar en t s??

sw am al on g t h e r i ver ?s ed ge, f or

Another weird question, h e alw ay s

th ey

th ou gh t , an d alw ay s an sw er ed ,

l ooked

al l

beau t i f u l

to

sp ectat e. Esp eci al ly th e babi es,

ask i n g, ?W h er e ar e y ou r

?W h at ar e p ar en ts??

w h o al l gat h er ed ar ou n d an d

46

A r tw or k : Er n st Per d r i el

47

T i d el i n e Jen n y Gai tskel l T h e gu l l s i n si st , t h i s m or n i n g i s

y ou , I ?m f on d of th i s ol d seasi d e

h er e f or t h e t ak i n g. I t sm el l s

tow n , h er sw eet an d sal ty h ear t . I

f r esh ly t u r n ed . Sea an d sk y ar e

bel on g. T h en

bi gger

n ast y n am es f or ol d er w om en ,

bl u e

t h an

y est er d ay ?s,

r esol u t e.

Sh i n gl e

th ei r an d

d i sh on est

y ou ?d

w om en .

gi ve h er

Ter m s

I

f l otsam , t h e w h ol e beach i s m i n e.

su p p ose y ou ?ll soon ap p ly to m e.

U n l ess I l ook f ar ah ead an d cou n t

I f I w er e th er e, tr y i n g to ex p l ai n ,

th e sti ck f i gu r es. N on e of th em

y ou ?d

ar e y ou .

en ou gh to r u n aw ay. You ?d sw ear

You ?r e

r i n gi n g

my

d oor bel l

ear l i er t h an p r om i sed , ex p ect i n g

say,

w e?r e

sti l l

y ou n g

to go w i t h ou t m e. T h er e?s n o n eed f or sw ear i n g.

m e to be r ead y, an d n ot br i n gi n g

I accep t i t al l . Fr om sh or e to

too m u ch l u ggage. I f I w er e at

h or i zon . T h i s m or n i n g i s m i n e.

h om e t o an sw er , y ou w ou l d tal k

Its

w i th ou t ask i n g. I t ?s t i m e to l eave,

ever - ch an gi n g selves, th ey an d I

y ou ?d say, t od ay ?s t h e d ay. You ?d

l et th e br eeze be. I ?ll h u n t f or

take m y m or n i n g, r ep h r ase th e

sm al l tr easu r es w ash ed u p al on g

col ou r s f or y ou r am u sem en t , an d

th i s

w i th y ou r w or d s m ake a l ew d

beach , f ar ah ead , th at sti ck f i gu r e

p ostcar d of i t . I ?d i n t er r u p t to tel l

i s m e.

col ou r s

ti d el i n e.

d escr i be

Fu r th er

th ei r

up

th e

A r tw or k : Ch er i e L ogan T h u r n er

48

49

WRITERS Tucker Bryant is a poet and keynote speaker based in San Francisco, CA. He left a position in Marketing at Google to help businesses explore the connections between poetic practice and innovation. His work appears in Scapegoat Review (forthcoming) and has featured at TEDx, The Prince's Trust (UK), and other organizations globally.

Victoria Mack is a disabled writer, actor, director, and teacher who splits her time between Savannah, where she teaches, and Brooklyn. She has been published in Minerva Rising, Papeachu, Honeyguide, Oyedrum, Kitchen Table Quarterly, The Field Guide, The Jewish Literary Journal, Oddball, Literary Vegan, and Flash Fiction Magazine. Her poem Sexual Cannabilism in the Black Widow Spider was nominated for the 2022 Best of the Net Awards. www.victoriamackcreative.com Terri Hanauer is a woman, mother, writer, poet, actor, director, photographer, supporter of human rights, dreamer, explorer, jester, meditator, friend, activist, Canadian/American, traveler, sister and daughter. She been cut in half as magician Doug Henning’s assistant, had her baby blessed by Stevie Wonder, and has been hugged by the hugging saint, Amma.

Ginny Sullivan, retired sailor, teacher, gardener and design educator, now has time and a lot to write about. She lives in Western Massachusetts.

Daragh Hoey is an Irish emigrant who has lived on all three American coasts and studied computer science and law at Dublin City University and the University of Houston, respectively. Now settled in Seattle with his wife, son, and cat, he is a new writer, and his work has appeared in Wild Roof Journal.

Lina Buividavičiūtė was born on May 14, 1986. She is a poet, literary scholar and literary critic. Her poetry is or will be published in Matte, Love this, Rise up, Masters, Bigger than me, and Proverse poetry prize contest anthologies in English. Lina's poetry is published in Versopolis poetry platform. She is the author of two poetry books in Lithuanian.

Chloe Bausano is a New York City poet who holds a degree in English Literature from Cornell University. She has previously been published by Wild Roof Journal, The Dillydoun Review, Cathexis Northwest Press, Beyond Words Literary Magazine, TDR Daily, and others, and her work is forthcoming in Drunk Monkeys. Her work centers around relationships and nostalgia.

Benjamin Rose is a poet born and raised in the D.C. area and the author of The Road Of Glass and Gardens And Graves. His work has appeared in The Dillydoun Review, Beyond Words Literary Magazine, and Cathexis Northwest Press. He studies English Literature at the Catholic University of America (Class of 2023) and started studying Urdu in 2022.

Ellen Devlin's poetry can be found in The Cortland Review, Ekphrasis, Lime Hawk Review, New Ohio Review, PANK, Poet Lore, Redactions: Poetry Poetics and Prose, The Lost River Review, The Sow's Ear, Women's Studies Quarterly Review. and Rita, a chapbook, published by Cervena Barva, 2019. Heavenly Bodies at the Met, a chapbook published by Cervena Barva Press, is forthcoming in 2022.

David Waters is a semi-retired cardiologist who lives in San Francisco with his wife Bobbi and Kerry blue terrier Trey. He has published a series of essays in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology, describing poignant patients and the social conditions contributing to their illness. He recently began writing short stories, which have appeared in the San Antonio Review, 34th Parallel, and the Dillydoun Review.

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, New Verse News, 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.

Alisha Waldrop is an emerging writer originally from McDonough, Georgia, and holds an MFA from Queens University of Charlotte in both fiction and poetry. She served as an editorial assistant for the QU Lit Mag, and her writing has appeared in Lady Blue Literary Magazine and Two Sister's Writing & Publishing. A former English teacher, Alisha is now a project and product development manager in the field of Education. She lives in North Charleston, South Carolina with her wife and children.

Maya Nena Desnacido Nanpei is one of Guåhan's many adopted daughters. A boonie dog of mixed origin, Maya currently works for a nonprofit organization that focuses on providing humanities programs to Guåhan and its inhabitants. Although she is new to writing, she hopes to continue to find herself in her poetry and poetry within herself.

Alex Stanley is a graduate of Boston College, and he received his MFA in Creative Writing at the University of California, Irvine. He is a former sports journalist, and his sports writing has been featured in Sports Illustrated. His published poems have appeared in American Poets Magazine, the HCE Review, Helix Magazine, Sunspot Literary Journal, RockPaperPoem, Duck Lake Journal, The Write Launch and the Doozine.

Emma Rosemary Jaques is a poet and engineer from New Jersey. Her work has been appeared previously in The Juggler and Re:Visions Literary Magazine.

Akhil Mulgaonker is a history and anthropology undergraduate at the University of Houston. He wishes to become a historian of medicine and disability. Akhil is currently working on a project writing a history of the medicalization of autism.

Michelle Alexander is an American-Trinidadian poet and graduate of New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study with a concentration in creative writing. Currently, she is enrolled as an MFA candidate at Columbia College of Chicago.

Jackson Douglas Smith is a queer, crip, mad poet who lives in Chicago, Illinois on the homeland of the Council of the Three Fires, Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi. He has previously been published in Beyond Words, Beyond Queer Words, and several other journals and collections. He values kindness above all things.

Henrietta Thompson is a new poet but not a young one, British but living in Brooklyn. She is writing and submitting to many places after some enthusiastic revision in NYC based workshops. She has a day job at the United Nations.

Lisa Ochoa lives and writes in Tucson, AZ. Her works explore the complicated world of our most intimate relationships and the things we do to survive them. Most recently her work was featured in Beyond Words Literary Magazine and at Bridge Eight Press; her piece, "Jenny's Wishing Well," was a finalist for the 53rd annual New Millennium Writing Award.

Alison Davis is an educator, author, and activist living in Northern California. She holds degrees from Very Prestigious Universities but sees her willingness to be like Rumi and gamble everything

for love as her greatest credential. Her writing has appeared in numerous scholarly and literary publications, including The Sun and SAUTI: Stanford Journal for African Studies.

Farezka S.P. is a writer based in Indonesia with "Laundry Routine" being their first accepted and published work. In spite of having no formal training in creative writing, they have a simple wish to tell fictional stories through various forms of literature and art. "Semoga bisa tercapai citacitanya!" as many have said, and that is exactly what they intend to do going forward.

Jenny Gaitskell lives by the sea in Sussex, UK. She loves old dictionaries, everyday magic, and writing odd little fictions. She blogs at jennygaitskell.com, posts stories and poems on Twitter @jennygaitskell.

VISUAL ARTISTS Cover art: Lenore, 16x24 in, Digital mixed media on metal, 2021, by Shannon Byers Fogle. Sbannon is a Multidisciplinary Artist from the United States, although her main mediums are Photography, Digital Art, Acrylic Painting and Poetry, she loves experimenting with new ideas and techniques.

“Art guides me to a place in my subconscious, pulling out complex, and deep rooted forms of expression, taking me through a process of self analysis,” says Shannon, “I am then forced to look at myself in a different light, it’s like a cracked mirror with fragments of truths waiting to be found.”

Shannon’s Limited Edition Digital Mixed Media Artworks can be purchased on Artsy, Artmajeur, Artnet, INPRNT, and Saatchi Art, or you can always explore her Publications, Bios, Exhibits and more on her Linktree, @shanwow.

Melisa Smith, From Sea, Acrylic on canvas, 2022. Expressionism acrylic, watercolor, marker, pencil, ink, & mixed media art. Breaking free from the chains that held her for so long, she expanded her expertise to the ex-mormon, ex-religious, spiritual subject matters. She loves color, composition, vulnerability, & expression of feelings & thoughts.

Jennifer Jean Okumura, Scratching the Surface diptych, oil on canvas, 60x48 each panel (60x96 in), 2022. Jennifer grew up in Philadelphia. She attended Syracuse University in addition to receiving her M.F.A. from Boston University. She has a strong comprehensive knowledge of the Art Market: Modern and Contemporary Art with diverse and extensive Fine Art experiences such as Operations Manager, Fine Art Consultant, Design Associate, Adjunct Educator at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and currently sits on the board as President and founding Exhibition Chair for National Association of Women Artists, Inc. MA chapter.

Rachel Mulder, Gossip, Cyanotype, 7.5x9 in. Rachel was born in rural Wisconsin and when she was small she spent a lot of time sitting in the grass staring, obsessing about animals, watching cartoons and peeling her skin off. She lives in Portland, Oregon, where her current obsession is making gel pen drawings that masquerade as someone's next sci-fi novel cover, milked from inside the paper and oozing from her brain. Residual effects from earning her BFA in Printmaking at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design in 2007 inspire her to vacillate between rigidity and intuition in her media of choice, which includes drawing with a typewriter, experimental cyanotypes, watersoluble graphite, pen and ink, and even her wet hair in the shower.

Luis Rosa Valentin is a wounded warrior (deaf triple amputee, IED 2008 Baghdad) and a student at the Maryland Institute College of Art. Luis uses word and image to document his journey and struggles throughout life. With paint, Luis tames tragedy's sting.

Layla Vladi, Caramel Apple. Layla, a German illustrator based in the Bay Area, has been creating her own unique brand of fantasy-inspired illustrations, establishing a name for herself in the art community. From her studio, Layla approaches her paintings with an atmospheric sensitivity combining shape, tone line, and color.

Myria Christophini, Mapping the Terrain nr. 25. Myria is an ethnically mixed fine artist, experimental animator and researcher.

GJ Gillespie, Horse with No Name. GJ is a collage artist living on Whidbey Island north of Seattle.

Winner of 18 awards, his art has appeared in 53 shows and numerous publications. A favorite quote: The world is but a canvas to our imagination. -- Henry David Thoreau.

Lawrence Bridges, Craftsman. Lawrence is best known for work in the film and literary world. His poetry 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. As a filmmaker, he created a

series of literary documentaries for the NEA’s “Big Read” initiative, which include profiles of Ray Bradbury, Amy Tan, Tobias Wolff, and Cynthia Ozick. His photographs have appeared in the Las Laguna Art Gallery 2020, Humana Obscura, Wanderlust a Travel Journal, the London Photo Festival, and displayed in the ENSO Art Gallery, Malibu, California.

Sheree Rayford, Anxiety. Sheree is an award-winning photographer, writer and artist born and raised in the Midwest (Madison, Wisconsin). Sheree currently lives in Fairfield, California with her husband and three children.

Dillan Ladner, Is it my turn yet. Dillan is a first-year MFA candidate at the University of Alabama.

They work within the ceramic medium and create intimate, small-scale works that explore playful environments and the interaction between viewer and sculpture.

Lou Storey, Plight of the Mummy. 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.

Max Stewart, The Assumption of the BVM on OSB; Cityscape with Fantastical Sky. 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 stand-up comic, a marathon runner, and a department store makeup artist.

Eli Heart, Moonlit Self Portrait, Acrylic on cardboard. Eli is a student at Pitzer college in Los Angeles. Eli’s one true love in life is art, as it deepens the understanding and value of life itself. Eli is inspired by impressionism because of the uniqueness of each artist i’s interpretation of life, the one experience we share.

Annie Guldberg, Overshadowed. Annie is an oil painted 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.

Amelia Prescott, Slush Trio. Amelia is an oil painter from Greater Manchester, UK. She would consider her work lighthearted and playful, the majority of her paintings being packed with colour, reflecting the joy and passion she has from creating them. The backgrounds are formed by the application of oil paint scraped on with palette knives, the use of loose brush strokes, and flicks of paint to emphasise the detailed subject matter in the foreground.

Heather Thomas, Beyond Time, 20x20 in, 2021, Mixed media and acrylic. Heather is an emerging artist who loves how every canvas has a voice. Heather is never happier than when she plays with paint and texture. The piece is part of the Consciousness Series of nine paintings all of which were created using only three colours; bone black, titanium white and Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold.

Erin Cross, Potency, 10x15 in, 2022, Colored pencil. Erin received her MFA in Visual Studies with a focus in multi-media studies. Her work has been published and exhibited nationally and internationally and resides in numerous private and public collections. She is currently an assistant professor of art at Doane University and resides in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Greg Borman, Sprung from III. Greg received his BFA from the University of Cincinnati and his MFA from San Francisco Art Institute. He has exhibited extensively in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. You can follow him on Instagram at @borman_fine_art.

Svetlana Wunnenberg, Morning Coffee. Svetlana is a senior at University of Missouri studying for a BFA with an emphasis in illustration. She incorporates bold colors, whimsical subjects and loose

brush strokes to evoke an elegant yet entrancing feeling. She is inspired by multiple sources of dystopian novels, pulp art, vintage science fiction art, and numerous short stories.

Christopher Ghattas, Java Expansion. Christopher is a biochemist with the CDC, though he also has a B.S. in English and enjoys writing whenever he has free time. His upbringing under an immigrant Greek father and large family afforded him with plenty of stories, from a childhood in South Carolina to France and back again. Travels and frequent moves inspired a love of visiting new places and photography.

Suha AlAttas, Woke. Suha is an award-winning interdisciplinary Saudi artist. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Fine Art with an emphasis in Art and Technology from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Suha’s multicultural and multidisciplinary background inspires her to explore the barriers that limit human, animal, and environmental potential. Her work focuses on transforming the complex and intangible into simplified and universally understood forms.

Ernst Perdriel, Philosopher’s Stone. Ernst is a multi-field artist (visual art, photography, writing French) born in Montreal (Quebec, Canada). His life mission is to transmit the passion of the cultural and environmental heritage through arts, lifestyle and sharing of knowledge. Perdriel has contributed in numerous publications since 1992 as a writer, illustrator, artist, photographer and in self-publishing.

Cherie Logan Thurner, Hope, Fort Pickens, Florida. Cherie is a retired nurse who for six years has wandered the USA living in her beloved tiny Toad camper documenting her travels with photography and her Facebook page, Toad on the Road.

Contents 0 1 O d e t o B l ack H ood i e T u cker B r y an t 0 2 O cean Gr ove V i ct or i a M ack 0 5 T h e W ed d i n g Ri n g Ter r i H an au er 0 6 W ed d i n g Vow s Gi n n y Su l l i v an 0 8 En am el D ar agh H oey 10 A p p l e f r om t h e ap p l e tr ee (A r ch ety p al A n x i ety ) L i n a Bu i v i d av i ?i ? t?

12 Cr abbi n g Ch l oe B au san o 15 T h e A n em on e Ben jam i n Rose 16 A f ter Cal cu l at i n g th e Pr obabl e A ge of M y D eath El l en D evl i n 19 L on g Good by e D av i d W at er s 22 B i n go N i gh t @ Fau st i n o's Fu n er al Par l or D i ck A l tm an 24 K i n d l i n g A l i sh a W al d r op 26 M y Fat h er 's Room M ay a N en a D esn aci d o N an p ei 29 H ot Pastor al A l ex St an l ey 30 M et u ch en M el t Em m a Rosem ar y Jaqu es 32 M ar gi n s of Sel f A k h i l M u l gaon ker 34 M éd u ser . M i ch el l e A l ex an d er 36 O d e on M al e Pat ter n Bal d n ess Jack son D ou gl as Sm i th 38 M O RN I N G Ch al l en ge i n cl u d i n g H en r i ett a T h om p son , L i sa O ch oa, A l i son D av i s, Far ezk a S.P. an d Jen n y Gai t skel l

Beyond Words T he I nternational M agazine of Word & I mage I SB N 9 78- 3- 9 4 89 77- 51- 1