So, i n a w ay, t h e t r i p to th e ER w as w or t h i t : th e k i d , th e w om an . Ju st goes to sh ow... som eth i n g. A n d i n case y ou ?r e w on d er i n g h ow a gol f bal l can l an d i n y ou r n eck an d qu i ck ly d i sap p ear , w e l ear n t h e n ex t d ay at a con ven i en t car e th at D eeGee h ad a sal i v ar y ston e. A SALI VARY ST ON E! T h an k s t o t h e con ven i en t car e d oct or , D eeGee k n ow s th at n ex t t i m e sh e sh ou l d su ck on a l em on d r op to m ake t h e st on e p ass. Con ven i en tly, th e con ven i en t car e i s ju st d ow n t h e r oad f r om th e gar d en cen t er . W e stop th er e to bu y som e Ep som sal t to m ake ou r y el l ow azal ea l eaves gr een agai n . D eeGee h ead s f or th e gi f t sh op . I sn ?t th i s t h e w ay l i f e w or k s? Ever y t h i n g i s goi n g w el l (gr een ) an d t h en i t i sn ?t (y el l ow ). T h en y ou d o som eth i n g to m ake i t bet t er agai n (bu y Ep som sal t, su ck on a l em on d r op), an d i n som e cases i t w or k s, bu t y ou can cou n t on oth er th i n gs h ap p en i n g ou t of t h e bl u e. Ep som sal t i n h an d , I w al k i n t o t h e gi f t sh op . ?Can I h el p y ou ?? a w om an ask s. ?I ?m l ook i n g f or a w i f e,? I say. Q u i cker th an a w al n u t tu r n s i n t o a gol f bal l , sh e say s, ?W i l l an y on e d o??
2
A r tw or k : T r u d y Bor en stei n - Su i gu r a
3
L o st Pat r i ar ch (y ) D av i d Footl e I l ost m y f at h er . N ot to i l l n ess n or t h e gr asp of age an d t i m e. N o f r eak i sh acci d en t r en t h i m f r om ou r l i ves. N ever w as h e v i si t ed by m u r d er ou s i n t en t . Bu t th r ou gh i d eas. Bel i ef s en gr ai n ed agai n st w h at gr ai n s t h e aged oak ou gh t to run. A h u r tf u l , h at ef u l bou n t y bl ossom ed . D esp i te a d r ou gh t of l ogi cal t h ou gh t an d r eason i n g an d ev i d en ce. Sou n d m i n d s sou n d f or ei gn . A n d f or ei gn er s ar e th e ot h er . O th er t h an ou r f am i l i al h i stor y For got t en . Con ven i en t. Back tu r n ed on bu r d en s l oved on es f ace i n t h e p u r p ose of t h ei r l i ves. En tr en ch ed a w or l d aw ay u p on th e l i v i n g r oom cou ch . Sp on gi n g u p t h e d r i vel an d l i es, sp u n as d el i cat ely as su gar an d w i t h su ch sk i l l d i sc jockey s w ou l d m ar vel . Sw eet th e sou n d of on e?s ow n w ay w ar d n ess.
En l i sted by d em agogu es, bu t h av i n g cu r sed si gn i n g u p f or th e d r af t. H ow f ar gon e th e p at r i ar ch f i n d s n ot u s. Ci v i l ton gu es. T i ed to w h atever con sp i r ator i al l ash i n g f l ai l s f l u n g. Fl ow n th e coop on coop er ati on . I l ost h i m . D eep w i t h i n h i s ow n m i n d . T h e d eep en d , w ar n ed abou t, n ow f i l l s h i s h ead . H e n ow f or ever of f i t. H u gs, u n f el t. H ear t, u n tou ch ed . Sm i l es beam i n g. Gl eam i n g gl i m p ses of w h at a f at h er u sed to be. D i sgu sted by d i sgu i ses n ow w or n as th ou gh th ey w er e m ean t to be. T h er e. Som ew h er e. U n r ecogn i zabl e. Gon e.
4
A r tw or k : Br u ce M agn ott i
7
D an ci n g at t h e Ri v o l i L ai n e L u bar Si tti n g i n t h e sh ad ow s w i t h Jack an d Coke, I w at ch ed y ou m ove i n th e l i n e of tw en ty, ey es tw i n k l i n g at m e, y ou r l on g l egs r em i n d i n g m e of w h eat bl ow i n g i n th e br eeze, l i th e, as y ou r f eet t w i r l ed to m eet th e l ast step s of th e m i d n i gh t w al t z. T h i s i s t h e l ast d an ce, al th ou gh y ou d on ?t k n ow th i s y et. W e?ve d an ced l on g en ou gh ; I k n ow w h en a n i gh t i s over .
T h e n ex t m or n i n g bl u r r y l i n es i n a br oken - d ow n tr ai n stati on . L on d on sh ad ow s p u l l aw ay f r om p eel i n g w ood , sp l i n t er i n g l ow r ay s bef or e d ar k n ess com es at m i d af ter n oon . At th e t op of St. Pau l ?s, a w h i sp er ed n am e m el ts i n t o th e m osai c at th e bott om , som eon e h ol d s a f or got ten scar f , a l on g l i n e of d ar k w ool l i ke t h e on e y ou l oan ed m e as w e w al ked al on g th e T h am es.
I saw y ou m i r r or ed i n th e r i p p l ed w at er , y ou r gh ost beh i n d m e, m i n e sl i gh tly i n f r on t. W e n ever m an aged to sy n ch r on i ze ou r step s, f or u s, l i ke ou r p at h s, th e r i ver tw i st ed , d ou bl i n g i n on i tsel f , i t l ed back t o a t r ai n stat i on at 6am , back t o a sl ow p l od to N ew Yor k , an i m m i gr at i on sol i ci tor ?s n u m ber a w ad of ch oi ce on th e ben ch beh i n d m e.
8
A r tw or k : N ath an i el M i ch ael
11
C ar i e H u m za A r f een A s tw i l i gh t ar r i ved , m y ch er i sh ed h ou r n ear ed , A r ou ti n e w oven w i t h h er m em or y. T h e i r on sh e on ce w i el d ed becam e m y gu i d e, Sm oot h ed ou t w r i n k l es w i t h h er ex p er t tou ch , T r an sf or m ed p l ai n att i r e to p r i n cely r obes. Bu tt on i n g m y sh i r t, a h i n t of l au gh t er l i n ger ed , H er p l ay f u l jab at t h e em p ty bu t ton h ol es, M y cl u m sy f i n ger s alw ay s m i ssi n g a f ew. Sh e?d jest , ?A r e t h ose sp ectacl es sti l l w or k i n g?? Fetch i n g m y jacket , a f ai n t stai n r ecal l s, A m em or y et ch ed f r om ou r f i r st d ate?s m i sh ap , I n stead of scor n , h er sm i l e beam ed br i gh t, ?N ot h i n g a sp i t sh i n e can ?t m en d ,? sh e?d r eassu r e. T h e ti e, a t r i bu t e t o h er k n ot- t y i n g ar t i st r y, H er f at h er ?s t ai l or sh op a h aven of sk i l l . A s I w at ch ed t u t or i al s on l oop , Sh e?d gi ggl e, ?N eed a h an d , ch am p ?? Sp r i tzi n g h er gi f ted col ogn e, m em or i es w af t , H er ex p er t i se i n m en ?s f r agr an ces a ch an ce m eet, Sh e?d say, ?A sp r i t z on th e h ou se, f or u s bot h .? O u tsi d e, on t h e ben ch w e cr af ted i n u n i son , Car ved i n cu r si ve, ou r n am e en gr aved , I si t an d p on d er t h e set ti n g su n , Recal l i n g h er w or d s, ?T i m e f or th e su n to n ap .?
14
A r tw or k : Rob Ram os
20
Go r i l l a's T ear s: h ow t h e w o r l d go t i t s n am es Peter Sh u k i e I t i s easy t o f or get h ow w e cam e to
betr ay al , a p l asti c toy i n u n r eal
k n ow t h e l an gu age th at sh ap es
br ow n an d r ed d en ed ey es th at
who
f or ever
m an u f actu r er s m ad e f or r age bu t
su m m er s w e l ear n ed ou r w or l d
i n w h i ch sh e saw sad n ess. O n ly
t h r ou gh n am i n g i t . Fr om
we
ar e. I n
d eep
sl ag-
th ese ti n y p et al s of or an ge an d
h eap s t u r n ed n at u r e r eser ve, th e
y el l ow w ou l d f i t i n th at d eep l oss,
W i gan
i f y ou k n ew th e stor y of th at ti n y
Alps
r esp l en d en t
w ith
t r ees, m ead ow f l ow er s an d w i l d -
p l asti c beast
l i f e.
bl ack an d w h i te f i l m
All
l an d scap ed
af t er
th e
m er ged
w i th
th at
an d th at
m u r d er ou s sl i d e th at sw al l ow ed
ch i l d cr u ci bl e of h u r t an d p i ty th at
ot h er ch i l d r en i n A ber f an . N atu r e
m el d ed th i s an gu i sh i n ti n y p et al s.
t o save u s. N atu r e to r ep l ace th e
N ot
on es t aken aw ay. T h i s on e cam e
san i ti sed sci en ti f i c d ef i n i ti on s of
w i t h l i t t l e p l aqu es an d l abel s i n
h ar d l i gh t an d d ead l an gu age. T h i s
L at i n . A n ot h er voi ce ech oi n g i n
w or l d w as f or r u n aw ay s f r om r age
ou r w ast el an d s. W e al r ead y h ad
an d h u n ger an d n am e- cal l i n g of a
n am es
h ar sh er k i n d .
f or
ou r
ti n y
u n i ver se.
Fl ow er s t h at l ooked l i ke ear s an d gr ew i n t h e f i el d beh i n d th e Kw i k Save w ar eh ou se. T h ese h el d th e d ead ly L an castr i an scor p i on , th e ear w i g,
sh eet
d ead l ock
m et al
p i n cer s
bod y
an d
hiding
in
p et al l ed caves w ai ti n g f or a d ay d r eam i n g ch i l d to l ay d ow n . T h en i t w ou l d be i n . Bu r r ow i n g i n to th e br ai n , l ay i n g eggs, tu r n i n g bon ces in to
i n sect
n ests. W e k n ew
to
On
ch i l d i sh
th i s
bu t
sl agh eap
p u r e w i th ou t
r eser ve
we
sw ap p ed ech oes of scr u f f s, sk an k s, gor m l ess, u sel ess f or ei gn er s f or p i x i e sock s, r abbi t p i l l ow s, bee th r on es. A sl agh eap u n i ver se cr eated i n th i s w i l d er n ess of saf ety w i t h n am es br eath ed i n t o l i f e. N o gn ar l ed gar d en er i n a cap w i th soi l - stai n ed bu ttr ess f i n ger s. N o, i t w as a f i zzi n g, bu bbl i n g ch i l d th at n am ed i t al l .
n ever l i e d ow n . L ater , w e l ear n ed th at th e w or l d T i n y f l ow er s w er e n am ed Gor i l l a?s Tear s
an d
w er e
ever y w h er e,
p er f ect
an d
sm al l .
My
si st er ?s
i m agi n i n g of w h at ou r p l asti c K i n g Kon g w ou l d sh ed , f or l oss an d
21
h ad d on e th i s f or ever . O u r Bee T hrones th e f ol k sy M onkey Chops, or M int Ivy, or
th e ol d
Glechoma hederacea.
an d
l ost
A r tw or k : L au r al ee Si kor sk i
22
Ad u l t h ood
th e
ben eath m oon l i gh t f or th e f i r st
tu m bl i n g
ti m e i n a h u n d r ed m i l l i on y ear s.
r an d om st r et ch of w or d s f r om l ost
T h e tow n of sh i m m er i n g or an ge
l an gu ages bef or e L at i n w as i n ven -
l i gh t s, d i r t cl ou d s an d p i n k gr ey
t ed . W e k n ew t oo th at f i r st d i st an t
cool i n g tow er s al l f ar aw ay f r om
t on gu e w ou l d al so n am e th ese
th i s n ew w i l d ou td oor ex i st en ce.
f l ow er s Bee T hrone, or som eth i n g
At th e f oot of th e h i l l , a w ood ed
equ al ly m ean i n gf u l an d r eal . A
an ci en t p l ace tr an sf or m ed
d i r ect ex p er i en ce of a w or l d w e
th e su n w as f al l en . N ot l i ke th e
l i ved an d br eath ed an d f el t an d
n ew h i l l si d e tr ees i n cages, th e
n am ed . T h e l an gu age of a w or l d
w ood w as al i ve. A h u ge Giants H air
w e l i ved w i t h an d n ot on e p eep ed
tr ee d r ew m e to ex p an ses of l eaf
at
f en ces. T h ese
an d br an ch an d tan gl e, w r estl i n g
sen t
L at i n
t au gh t
w as
t h r ou gh
n am i n g
i t sel f
h i gh
sor t i es
u s even a
f l ar es
n ow
to
w i th i n v i si bl e w i n d s, an d ben eath
ot h er s t o f i n d t h e m y st er y an d th e
a sol i d bl ack tr u n k . A f l ash of
w on d er i n t h ei r w or l d s. Ad ven tu r -
w h i t e sh ot th r ou gh th i s str an ge
er s u si n g p l ay f u l ton gu es as m ap s
l i gh t . M i st akes ar e m ad e i n th i s
an d
bu i l d i n g sen su ou s l i br ar i es
d u sk y d ar k n ess, bu t sk i n p r i ck l ed
f or t h i s p r eci ou s f ew. M or e m ar -
w i th th at u n ex p ect ed bol t. T h en
vel ou s st i l l , t h e l i f el on g f asci n at i on
agai n ,
br i l l i an t
w h i te,
w i t h d i scover i es bey on d w or d s.
bl ot ch
am i d st
th at
T h e w or l d w e ar e bor n i n to an d
sh ad ow of tr u n k , bl ack n ess bou n d
k n ow com p l etely bu t th en l ose
in
an d on ly r em em ber i n gl i m p ses.
f l ash . T h e bod y set of f an d took
En cou n t er s w h er e on ly th e w i l d
m e w i th i t.
an d f or got t en on es d ar e tr ead . M y f i r st en cou n t er af t er th e f i r st l ost i n n ocen ce cam e n i gh t cam p i n g, a m akesh i f t t en t beh i n d th e m i n esh af t l ake. D y i n g em ber s of a f i r e ci r cl e m ad e f r om r ock s u n ear t h ed f r om p r eh i st or i c p i t d ebr i s d r agged
f r om
t h e d ep t h s an d
n ow
23
bl ack n ess. A n d
f r om
d ar k
a
wild
agai n , f l ash ,
M ov i n g tow ar d th e w ood , d ow n tow ar d s an ot h er f l ash , an d an oth er , cu r i osi ty beacon s. Cr aw l i n g n ow, coar se gr ass, h ar d an d i tch y, d am p n ess com i n g w i th th e f al l en su n . D am p , f am i l i ar f r om ou r coal h ol e i n th e r ai n , w h er e w e h i d e w h en an ger th r eaten s.
Sti l l
cr aw l i n g u n ti l
th e gr ass
d ar k n ess
an oth er
an d
m or e
tu r n s sof t , h ead f ace u p , th e
br i l l i an t sh ock of l i gh t as th e
f l ash agai n an d t h e w h ol e of m y
w at ch i n g m oth er ap p ear s. T h e
bod y
sp ar k l i n g,
cover y
f ever
f i zzi n g,
d i s-
sof t sou n d l ess f l i gh t above d r ew
r u sh . Cool
sof t
ever y at om i n m e as i r on f i l i n gs
gr ass, w et , gi ves w ay to scr at ch y
to a m agn et. M esm er i sed , sen ses
ear th . W i zar d h at m u sh r oom s
d i ssolved
w atch i n g str okes of
an d d am p er ear t h y sm el l s. A l l
w i n gs
an ot h er
d ar k h er e n ow, a gh ost ly w or l d
f eath er s th at p r op el l ed i n abso-
an d
am
l u te si l en ce d ead ly to scu tt l er s
an oth er m e, ol d er , w i l d er . T h e
ben eath an d i n m e total sti l l n ess.
sm u d ge i n t h e t r ee i s a h ol e! A
A l l d ar k n ess agai n . Sti l l n ess. Si -
scr eech , an d an oth er , at tu n ed
l en ce on top of si l en ce. T h i s w as
n ow to con st an t cal l s f r om w i t h -
a n ew stage. A w or l d th at h as n o
i n th e t r ee cave. Scu t tl i n g, scr at -
w or d s. T h at i s bey on d th em .
i n g. T h en t h e f l ash bu t th i s ti m e
T he
a f ace, a m ad r ou n d f ace, bi g
f eel i n g/ bod y / k n ow i n g I
bl ack ey es, a f ace t u r n i n g ar ou n d
sp en d a l i f e sear ch i n g f or agai n .
l i ke a t w i zzl i n g m oon , th e ey es
L i gh t n ess am on gst th e d ar k n ess.
my
bod y
k n ow s
I
m ove t o t h e w est , t h en on top agai n , th en t h e east . A n O w l ! A ti n y
wh ite
ow l ,
bow i n g
an d
sh i f ti n g si d e t o si d e. T h i s f eath er y p h an t om t h e on ly th i n g an ey e cou l d see am i d st a h u ge d ar k
m ass
of
t r ees.
W i n gs
str etch ed , an gel w i n gs, stagger ed to th e si d e as bal an ce i s l ost . I h ave n o bod y n ow, on ly ey es an d con n ect i on . Fr om
in
f i r st
r eal m ,
m em or y
of
of
th at w ou l d
A f ai n t r u stl e an d a ti n y squ eak d eep er i n th e w ood s sh ocked m e back i n to m ovem en t. U p th e h i l l , to bl an kets on w et gr ass, p ar t of tw o w or l d s n ow an d r ev i tal i sed . T i n y sn or es am i d st th e
w ool
an d
n y l on
br i n gs
ever y th i n g back to th i s ou tsi d er w or l d bu t d i f f er en tly n ow. T h e r evel at i on of et er n i ty ch an ges i t al l .
som ew h er e el se i n th e
24
A r tw or k : Ken To
25
A r tw or k : Pam el a V i ggi an i
27
A p er f ect i o n i st 's d r eam L i n a Bu i v i d av i ?i u t? I go back t o sch ool ? a 34 y ear - ol d w om an , I d on ?t k n ow h ow t h ey ?ll r eact, i f th ose ch i l d r en w i l l sti l l m ock m e, I take th e L i t h u an i an an d bi ol ogy ex am s al l over agai n ? th e assi gn m en t s ar e d i f f i cu l t , th i s ti m e I w on ?t scor e 10 0 p er cen t, tear s st ar t f al l i n g, ju st l i ke d u r i n g ar t s an d cr af ts cl ass i n t h e secon d gr ad e, becau se i t ?s r eal ly scar y n ot t o k n ow h ow, i t?s scar y to sew l i f e?s f abr i c w i th th e w r on g sti tch es, w i t h cr ooked sti t ch es, to u n f et t er th e ey es; an d I sti l l p eel ap p l es f or th e sch ool ?s p i e, th i ck p eel s, ever y on e l au gh s; I f ai l ed m ath em at i cs, I d on ?t k n ow h ow to d eter m i n e an gl es, cal cu l ate si n es; a r eci t ati on com p et i t i on ? an d I , a 34 y ear - ol d w om an , h ave f or got t en M i ?osz?s ? H y m n to Sp r i n g,? even th ou gh I p r ep ar ed an d p r act i ced , I r ep eat ed th at p oem th r ou gh ou t m y con t r acti on s, bu t th at w as a d i f f er en t w or l d , i n th i s on e ? I ?ve l ost m y p er f or m ati ve voi ce, i t becom es a w h i sp er , I ?m tossed ou t of th e com p eti ti on , agai n an d agai n I ?m tossed ou t , I w ake u p sobbi n g, w ake u p k n ow i n g: an d h er e, on th i s si d e, I ?ll h ave t o bat t l e w i t h k n i t ti n g n eed l es an d p en ci l s, I ?ll h ave to sh ow th at I ?m cap abl e, n ot even k n ow i n g of w h at .
T ranslated from the Lithuanian by Ada Valaitis
28
Fo l l ow i n g t h e Sh ad ow o f D o u b t Cl au d i a Saqu i cel a N ov i l l o I n t h e w h i sp er of a w i l l ow th at l eaves i ts l eaves, a beau ti f u l , h i d d en p h r ase h an gs an d r u bs agai n st m e. Sh e, l i ke th e w at er , h esi t at es an d sl i d es; an ech o i n th e d ar k cor n er of th e br eeze. M y d r eam s, ten se w i n gs of an i m m or tal d esi r e, t h ey ar e n ot p ar t of m e; th ey, f r om th e si l en ce, sp r i n g f or th , bi t i n g ech oes th at gal l op f r om m y bei n g. Fad i n g, th ey br eak th e d am age, th ey seek to be, an d i n t h e d ar k n ess th ey p l ay w i t h th e l on el i n ess of m y y ester d ay. Fr om t h e t h r oat th ey l au n ch th em selves, ask i n g f or r ed em p ti on ; th ey r u n , r estl ess, of th e qu est i on .
30
A r tw or k : Sh er ee Com bs
31
A r tw or k : Ger r i e Pai n o
Shadows! The following pieces are the winners of our shadow-themed 250-word challenge! 32
T h e Go r ge Jasm i n e M ar sh al l A r m str on g At d aw n I tr ace th e Gal l at i n Ri ver i n sh ad ow ? T h e op en i n g of th e gor ge at th e can y on ?s m ou t h r em i n d s m e of th e 10 - y ear - ol d w h o l ooked u p t h e w or d ?s m ean i n g, an d sai d throat? From Latin. I ?d sm i l ed , l et ti n g h i m bask i n t h e r i si n g su n of acqu i si ti on , a n ew w or d t o sl i p i n h i s p ocket , or r u b toget h er at cor n er s of h i s m ou th . I d on ?t tel l h i m th e p eop l e w h o sp oke L at i n en joy ed w at ch i n g th r oats of en sl aved p eop l e i n th e gu i se of Gl ad i at or ar m or r i p p ed op en , th e l ast br eath a si gh f r om th at gor ge w e al l car r y, an ex san gu i n ati on l i ke th e bl ood f r om th e k i l l ed d oe?s n ostr i l s ju st bey on d th e ar c of m y h ead l i gh ts.
33
St r an ge So i l Regi n a M u n ch I on ly f eel w el com e i n h er gar d en . I am n ot cer t ai n sh e k n ow s th at I am h er e. Som et i m es I d o n ot k n ow ei t h er . I m ay si m p ly becom e h er , w at ch i n g f r om beh i n d h er ey es, sl eep i n g i n t h e sh ad ow s of h er m i n d . Bu t I can f eel m y sel f em er ge agai n w h en sh e ten d s th e soi l . I t i s th e on ly t i m e h er m i n d r ests en ou gh t o l et m e ou t . I t i s th e on ly ti m e I r ecogn i ze w h at sh e i s d oi n g. H er bod y ceases t o be som e d ead th i n g, d r agged f r om p l ace to p l ace. A s sh e sow s seed s or h ar vest s on i on s an d bean s, I can p r et en d th at h er h an d s ar e m i n e. M y bod y i s acr oss an ocean , an d su r ely n ow i t h as r etu r n ed t o th e ear th . I t i s
scatter ed ash es, on ce a bod y th at bi r t h ed a baby th at bi r th ed an oth er th at bi r th ed an ot h er , d ow n to h er . Per h ap s i t i s n ot h er d u ty to w el com e m e. I am as f or ei gn i n ti m e to h er as Caesar Au gu stu s to m e. W h en on e d escen d an t or an oth er cr ossed th e w ater , sh e cu t of f h er ow n d escen d an ts f r om u s. O u r bu r i al m ar ker s h ave f ad ed , ou r bod i es l ost to th e k n ow l ed ge of m an , bu t w e l i ved an d bi r th ed an d d i ed on th at sam e soi l . T h i s l an d d oes n ot con tai n m e. Bu t sh e i s m i n e; a str an ger to m e, w or k i n g i n str an ge soi l , bu t m i n e al l th e sam e.
34
A r tw or k : Jack Bor d n i ck
35
I n B et w een N i co Sw an son i t bu r r ow s i n to an au bu r n af gh an of h ai r l azi ly sw i n gs i n th e sl i n g of ey el ash es h u d d l es i n th e caver n of a d i m p l e n estl ed i n th e gap betw een ey etooth an d gu m
cu r l s agai n st th e f am i l i ar p i l l ow of a si l ken n eck tu m bl es i n to th e cr ater s of cl av i cl es l i ves i n th e w ar m d ow n y tu ck ben eath an ar m settl ed bey on d th e bou n d s of a f r eck l e
l i es p r on e i n th e val l ey of an i n f i n i te scar sl i th er s al on g th e secr et p l ace w h er e h i p m eets th i gh l i n ger s w i th i n th e octet of al l ey w ay s betw een toes
d r i f ts th e sh ar p ed ge of l i gh t bey on d i ts bod y over a vast f i gu r e of si n ew an d bon e cr ad l ed by a sti l l h ou se of sp ace an d sk i n
36
C o u ch es El i ta Su r atm an O u r f i r st cou ch w as a p ear l - gr ay
sol i tar y
l oveseat. I ts sh een tem p er ed th e
str u ggl i n g to m oor th e f am i ly w h i l e
p eel i n g l eath er of th e l on e r ecl i n er
i t w eath er ed th e stor m .
i n h i s si n gl e- w i d e tr ai l er .
r ef l ecti on .
An
an ch or
W e h ad settl ed i n to th e sti l l n ess of
T h en , a f u l l - si zed cou ch , a bei ge
ou r sh ad ow s, h i d i n g i n th e cr eases
ch en i l l e can vas f or th e f i r st f am i ly
l i ke l ost p en n i es, w ai ti n g to be
p h oto
r ed i scover ed . O r f or gotten .
in
ou r
ap ar tm en t.
O ur
f ou r - m on th - ol d bou n ci n g on h er f ath er ?s k n ees. M e, w i th i n a br eath of th ei r sm i l es.
T h at d ay, th e cou ch w as a m eeti n g p l atf or m
at m y r equ est. W e sat
ap ar t, h ar bor ed i n th e l ee of i ts
O ver th e y ear s a su n d r y of sof as,
am p l e ar m r ests. I d i p p ed m y toe
con str u cted w i th en gi n eer ed w ood
i n to th e si l en ce as i f tr esp assi n g i n to
f r am es an d
ou r m ar r i age. I want a divorce, I sai d ,
steel su p p or ts, h ave
h osted cou n tl ess bl ock bu ster m ov i e
my
n i gh ts
f l ed gl i n gs bar ely abl e to l eave th e
in
ou r
h om e.
Fam i ly
gath er i n gs. T h ei r su r f aces p r otected w i th
Scotch gar d
to
r esi st
soi l ed
sh oes an d sp i l l ed m em or i es. T h ei r seats
r ei n f or ced
w i th
m akesh i f t
p ly w ood p l an k s u n d er th e cu sh i on s to p r ol on g th e i n ev i tabl e. Fi n al ly, th i s. A tau p e, m i cr of i ber
w or d s
ven tu r i n g
ou t
l i ke
n est. T h en , m y bod y gave w ay i n to th e seat
cu sh i on ,
r el i eved
in
th e
su p p or t i t p r ov i d ed , k n ow i n g th e cou ch , h el d togeth er by tack s an d th r ead , w ou l d n ot col l ap se th e w ay m y m ar r i age ju st d i d .
sof a. A r ef u ge f or teen age n ap s an d
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A r tw or k : Geor ge Sl ad e
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T h r ee W al k s T o T h e L i gh t h o u se Fo r Su n set Jai m e Gi l l 20 0 8. W e h ol d h an d s w al k i n g to th e l i gh t h ou se. I n th e p ast, I f ou n d h an d - h ol d i n g aw k w ar d an d p er f or m at i ve. W i th Sar ah i t?s n ear - i n st i n ct i ve. Tech n i cal ly, w e?ve m et tw en ty ti m es, bu t i t d oesn ?t f eel l i ke t w en t y sep ar ate con ver sat i on s. I t f eel s l i ke on e l on g con ti n u ou s con ver sat i on i n con ven i en t ly i n ter r u p ted by w or k an d f am i ly. W e?ve exch an ged th e f am ou s th r ee w or d s, bu t w h en I see ou r sh ad ow s bef or e u s ? tw o i n ter l i n ked , w or l d - con qu er i n g gi an ts str etch ed ou t by t h e si n k i n g su n ? th r ee n ew w or d s take r oot. W e ar e com p l ete. 20 18. M atty ?s ol d en ou gh to w al k al on e, bu t sti l l l i kes u s to h ol d h i s h an d s, on e on each si d e. H ow can i t be ten y ear s si n ce w e cam e h er e? M att y ?s sti l l i n h i s t or r en ti al ?w h at , w h er e, w h y ? p h ase. W h at?s a l i gh th ou se? W h y d oes i t sh i n e? W h er e d o th e sh i p s com e f r om ? T h er e?s n o qu esti on h e cou l d ask I w ou l d n ?t tr y to an sw er . O u r sh ad ow s ar e gi an ts gu i d i n g a m op - h ai r ed d w ar f . W e ar e com p l ete. 20 23. Sar ah su ggest ed t h i s r etu r n . Sh e?s str on ger th an m e, alw ay s h as been . I w an t to t ake h er h an d , bu t am af r ai d m y bi g f i n ger s w i l l r em i n d h er p ai n f u l ly of t h e t i n y, sof t on es th at l i n ked u s bef or e. H er h an d i n stead f i n d s m i n e, h er p al m h ot w i t h l i f e an d l ove. W e tal k of M att y. W e d on ?t bel i eve h e?s w ai ti n g f or u s an y w h er e, bu t ou r w or d s keep a l i ttl e of h i m h er e. O u r sh ad ow gi an t s ar e l ess sl en d er n ow, a l i ttl e l u m p i er an d m or e h u n ch ed , y et sti l l con n ect ed . Can som et h i n g so br oken be m ad e com p l et e agai n ? W e?r e f i n d i n g ou t , toget h er .
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OUR EDITORIAL BOARD A hearing impaired writer and artist adopted in Luxembourg, Kelly Sargent is an award-winning author of two memoirs in verse, a haiku and senryu poetry collection, and a children’s storybook. Recent honors include: Firebird Book Award winner, The Rash Award in Poetry finalist, Eric Hoffer Award nominee, Touchstone Award for Individual Poems nominee, and Best of the Net nominee. Her other works have appeared in more than eighty literary journals. She also serves as the creative nonfiction editor of The Bookends Review. Visit www.kellysargent.com to learn more about her. Callum Foulds is a poet, recording artist and an Arts and humanities graduate based in Nottingham, UK. Their work has been featured in Beyond Words Magazine and their debut pamphlet, Morning, grey sky is out February 2023 on Electric Frog Ltd. In their free time they enjoy writing poetry, consuming copious amounts of gorgeous coffee, releasing music as ghost orange and scaring themselves silly watching horror movies. They are most passionate about innovative forms of poetry and prose. Diliana Stoyanova is a Bulgarian-Finnish spoken-word and sound poet, and PhD candidate based in Helsinki. A 2019 Finnish national slam finalist and an avid performer, she writes to take ownership of her own narrative. Her poetry moto is 'Sometimes I do the words, and sometimes the words do me.' She has been published in magazines and anthologies, most recently in the "Poetry and Settled Status for All" published by Civic Leicester to support refugees and migrants. K.D. Zwierz is a lecturer, musician and poet. His poetry was recently featured in the anthology Ukraine in the work of international poets (Literary Waves). His writing explores themes of displacement, cultural identity and historical relativism, explored through the analysis of his own experiences growing up in a migrant farming community. Of Polish-Italian descent, he lives and writes between Croatia, Kuwait and the UK. Colby Flade (he/him) is a queer writer, artist, avid drinker of coffee, and student based in Chicago. He is the author of The Smell of the Light Blue House in Summertime (2021), Menthol (2022), Fear Home (Oyez Review, Vol. 49, 2022), Short Sweet Simple: Love Poems (Bottlecap Press, 2022), Ignis Fatuus (Beyond Words Literary Magazine, Issue 35, 2023) and The Fly & Odor (Beyond Words Press, 2023). Colby’s work can be found online, at bookshops like This Old Book in Grayslake, Illinois & The Book Teller in Whitewater, Wisconsin, and elsewhere. Flade attended DePaul University, studying Writing, Rhetoric & Discourse, and is
currently pursuing a degree in Early Childhood Education. Find him on Instagram @theflade and on www.theflade.com Erin Challenor (she/her) is an undergraduate at the University of Iowa, studying creative writing, political science, and American studies. Originally from Portland, Oregon, she likes pennies, sticky notes, slam poetry, and cats. She likes writing about the Generation Z experience and is Managing Editor for the literary magazine The Jupiter Review. Noah Evan Wilson is a writer and musician based in New York City. His stories have been published in Beyond Words, Dreamers Creative Writing Magazine, and Prime Number Magazine, among others, as well as the anthology, Ten Ways the Animals Will Save Us, from Retreat West Books. Noah is currently an MFA candidate at Rutgers University-Newark. His latest record, The View from the Ground – EP, is now available on all major streaming platforms. Candi Martin is a Creative Writing tutor and published writer/ editor who writes on social equality and our roots in this world. She holds MA Creative Writing and Wellbeing from Teesside University and has always written for her own wellbeing. She can usually found listening to BBC6 music with a huge cup of tea. Insta @candi_says_ @writingforwellnessrossendale Brian "Brie" Sheridan is a writer and editor existing on the East Coast. They are currently trying to publish their first chapbook. In their free time, the enjoy playing nostalgic video games, planning out tattoos, and drag. Roberta Laurie is the author of Weaving a Malawi Sunrise. She holds an MA in Environmental Education and Communication and teaches in the Bachelor of Communication Studies program at MacEwan University. Roberta writes about writing, nature, sustainability, and sustainability communication. She is currently writing a memoir inspired by a box of letters left behind by her father. Sam Burt is a tutor and proofreader living in London. Since finishing a master’s in creative writing, he has edited for Exposition Review, Bandit Fiction, F(r)iction, and Beyond Words. Off-page, he volunteers with an LGBTQ+ charity and runs the East London Indie Book Club. He is always thinking about working on a novel.
WRITERS Mark Williams's poems have appeared in "Beyond Words," "The Southern Review," "Rattle," "Nimrod," "New Ohio Review," and other journals. His fiction is forthcoming in "Gargoyle," "BULL," "The Main Street Rag," and a Running Wild Press short story anthology. He lives in Evansville, Indiana. David Footle is a trained arachnologist with a degree in biology, and currently works as an interpreter of the natural world in Colorado. Trips outdoors with him are punctuated by frequent pauses to splendor at any tiny, living thing that crosses his path. While exploring the biological side of hard sciences, David still maintains a large penchant for poetry, indulged through reading and writing. Teri Elam is an Atlanta-based poet and screenwriter. A Cave Canem Graduate Poetry Fellow, her poems are published in Prairie Schooner, december
magazine, Let Me Say This: A Dolly Parton Poetry Anthology, The Future of Black: Afrofuturism, Black Comics, and Superhero Poetry. Most recently, her Pushcart-nominated poem, "On Being Called The N-Word in 2016: A Southern Ghazal," was chosen by Kwame Alexander for his, This Is the Honey: An Anthology of Contemporary Black Poets. Teri's screenplays featuring Queer Black Women in the South have placed in Stowe Story Labs, ScreenCraft, and Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards competitions. Her TV Pilot (Dramedy), based on being a caretaker for her mom, Andi Lake Has Things To Do, is a Cinestory Quarterfinalist, Outstanding Screenplays Semifinalist, and Austin Film Festival Second Rounder. Laine Lubar received her BA and MA from Binghamton University and resides in the hills of central New York. Her work has been published in ImageOut, the journal of the Rochester, NY LGBTQ film festival, Poet’s Choice and Maya’s Micros, part of The Closed Eye Open. When not writing, Laine teaches at Onondaga Community College and walks through the city of Syracuse being nice to people. At seventy-six years old, Rita Myers has not given up hope in the redemptive powers of art and beauty. An award-winning video artist and graphic designer, she is currently working on several series of photographs as well as writing poetry. She and her wife divide their time between Philadelphia, PA and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Nicole Lombardi is a high school Creative Writing and literature teacher near Chicago, IL. Much of her writing is rooted in the connection between society's systems of oppression and our personal lives. She has work featured in English
Journal, Mindful Word, Dissident Voice, and Verse-Virtual. Nicole enjoys winter, long mornings on her porch, and Spanish wine. Humza Arfeen is a 19 year old college student attending Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. He enjoys playing cricket and writing short stories and poetry in his free time. The author that inspired him to write was Ray Bradbury. 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, Fredericksburg Literary Review, Foliate Oak, Blue Line, Landing Zone, Cathexis, Humana Obscura, Haunted Waters Press, Split Rock Review, The Ravens Perch, Beyond Words, New Verse News, Wingless Dreamer, Blueline, Sky Island Journal and others here and abroad. A Pushcart Prize nominee and poetry winner of Santa Fe New Mexican’s annual literary competition, he has in progress two collections of some 150 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. Stephanie Trenchard is an artist whose narrative cast glass work in in many fine collections and museums. She runs a hot glass studio in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin Her writing has been published in Dillydoun Review, The Closed Eye Open, upcoming in Black Fox Literary Journal, and The Write Launch. Her artwork is in many fine collections and museums and can be seen at popelkaglass.com Peter Shukie is a working writer and educator hailing from the lost mining communities of Wigan in Lancashire, Northern England. He writes on how stories from the past tend to haunt our present and the ways poor and marginalised communities build their own narratives in a world blasted apart by others. Peter works at a community college in Lancashire, teaching on social justice and alternative modes of education, with the aim of reaching spaces too often ignored. Ronald Zack is an attorney and nurse practitioner in Tucson, Arizona. He was raised in Detroit and worked his way to Arizona, spending a few years on the Navajo Reservation in New Mexico. He is currently studying poetry in the MFA in Creative Writing program at the Mississippi University for Women. Lina Buividavičiūtė was born on May 14, 1986. She is a poet and literary critic. Lina is an author of two poetry books in the Lithuanian language. Her poetry is published in "Matter", "Masters" and “Proverse Poetry Prize" contest anthologies, "Drunk Monkeys", "Beyond Words", "The Dewdrop", "The Limit Experience", "Beyond Queer Words", "Maudlin House", "Cathexis Northwest
Press", "Poetry Online", "Red Noise Collective", "Sad Girls Diaries" magazines as well as "Versopolis" poetry platform. Upcoming publications include “New Millennium Writings”, "Cathexis Northwest Press", "Red Noise Collective", "The Stardust Review" and “Beyond Words” magazines. Lawyer and psychologist Claudia Saquicela Novillo has a master's degree in education and a postgraduate degree in political science. She is a researcher in the area of legal psychology. University teacher, writer, poet, and owner of the Audiostories audiobook app. Jasmine Marshall Armstrong is a Montessori writing instructor, poet, and nonfiction writer living in Bozeman, Montana. Her poetry has been published in Typishly, America Magazine, Sojourners Magazine, Poets Reading the News, In Parentheses, Cathexis Northwest Press, The Dewdrop, The Ulu Review, and numerous literary anthologies. Her chapbook, Emergence, was a 20213 finalist for the Beyond Words Chapbook Competition, and her full-length collection, The Custodian’s Daughter, was a finalist for the Fjords poetry collection competition. Regina Munch is an editor and writer from Wayne, PA. Nico Swanson is a senior completing a BA in Professional and Creative Writing at Central Washington University whose work leans toward darker narratives intersecting femininity, sexuality, mental health, and the experience of loss. Nico loves horror, mythology, houseplants, baking, and the darker things in life. Elita Suratman @elita.suratman has had a long career writing for others but is now working on her debut memoir on her flyway toward self-identity. When she’s not playing with words, Elita can be found in her backyard, watching the sun set over the lake with her husband, a glass of Cab and a bag of Gardetto’s (sometimes in that order). Learn more about her by visiting her website: elitasuratman.com Jaime Gill is a writer and creative consultant living in Cambodia. He was born in Britain but left in 2014 and cannot be held responsible for any of his home country’s decisions after that date. His award-winning journalism, features and fiction have been published by The Guardian, BBC, Beyond Words, Wanderlust, The Write Launch, Bangkok Post, voidspace, Beyond Queer Words, and Phnom Penh Post. He works for non-profits across South East Asia while working haphazardly on a novel, film script, and far too many stories, two of which were recently longlisted by The Masters Review and The Bridport Prize.
VISUAL ARTISTS Cover art: Enthroned by Emily Rankin. Emily was born in Riverside, California and attended university in Texas, where she received a BFA in 2011. Her body of work deals with the tangles of human emotion and understanding, the intuitive messages of dreaming and subconsious exploration. Her work has appeared in such publications as Gasher, Raw Art Review, Metonym, Black Fox, Hey I’m Alive Magazine, and Rattle, and she's currently based in New Mexico. Trudy Borenstein-Suigura, What’s New. Trudy is a multi-media artist from Princeton, NJ, exploring the issues of time, perception, cultural identity, ecological awareness and memory. Trudy’s collage portraits are realized using the personal papers and related documents of the subject, to create a unique amalgam of image and content. George Slade, Looking Out, Minneapolis, 2019; Couch in Fitness Studio, Eden Prairie, 2023. George is a widely published writer and photographer based in Minnesota's Twin Cities. My Father's Shirts, his book combining images and written observations about his father's journey in Alzheimer's dementia, was published in 2021. Look for him on IG @rephotographica; his website is georgeslade.photo Bruce Magnotti has been a photographer and videographer for most of his life. He has worked throughout the world including Western and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. He has filmed in diverse places such as the Jerusalem Theater and the Hamburg State Opera House, the Pine Barrens of New Jersey and the Hoh Rain Forest in Washington State. Carlos Deleon is a photographer because he had to be, even at ten years old, grabbing at machines. He lives in Chicago but photographs everywhere. Nathaniel Michael lives in Flowery Branch, GA with his wife, Nicole, and daughter, Thea. He works in a family reconciliation program, Eagle Ranch, alongside his family and practices writing and photography in his free time. Jennifer Bouton can feel the connection with nature. She has always been compelled to grab for a camera upon seeing Her smile Born in Gibraltar to Vincentian parents and raised amidst the rich cultural milieu of a West Indian neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY, Damien Jackson's unique perspective is steeped in a diverse, global consciousness. Damien's journey in
photography began with a meaningful gesture—a camera gifted by his father to capture the evolving story of his grandchildren. This ignited a passion for portraying the dynamism and depth of youth and family life, themes that prominently feature in his work. His portraits are not just images; they are narratives that weave together the threads of individuality, family bonds, and cultural heritage. Sarah Venaccio, Street Music. Sarah is a writer, painter and zine-maker living in Appleton, Wisconsin. She has three children and two Siberian Huskies. She finds clarity in walks by the river, steamy baths with fat novels and visible mending. Rex Wilder is an artmaker and poet living in Benedict Canyon, California. His artwork has been honored with many awards and featured both on magazine covers and within them. He has three books of poetry published, and his poems have been widely printed and anthologized. Rob Ramos, A day with psychosis. Rob is a freelance artist in Galveston, Texas. His artwork is a platform for him to bring awareness to mental illness. Www.robramos.gallery Lauralee Sikorski, Concrete Jungle. 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. Ken To, With Love Comes Hope. As a photography enthusiast from Hong Kong albeit amateur, Ken To believes that photography is a powerful way to inspire others and spread love. He always keeps learning to cultivate creativity while looking for new inspiration. He is particularly interested in exploring mindful photography as a way to enhance well-being and resilience of himself and others. Pamela Viggiani, Tread Lightly. Pamela is a mixed-media artist and art educator living in Canandaigua, NY. A native of the Finger Lakes region, Pamela received a BS and MS from Nazareth College of Rochester. She began teaching art in 1986 and continues to foster enthusiasm and creativity in her students to this day. Andrea Jones is an artist from Liverpool, England. For the past thirteen years she has worked as an art teacher in a prison. Her artwork has featured in several art and literature magazines in the U.S.A, U.K, Berlin, Stockholm, Lisbon and Japan.
Sheree Combs, View to a Fall. Shere grew up in the Appalachian Mountains but has lived on a small farm in central Kentucky for the past twenty-five years. The mountains of home and the beauty of the Bluegrass region inspire her photography, as well as her passion for growing dahlias. She retired in 2015 to focus her time on honing her writing and photography skills and has attended numerous workshops. Gerrie Paino, As Big As My Dreams. Gerrie’s creative spirit has led her to various forms of artistic expression throughout her life, including a passion for photography. She relishes exploring the world around her and sharing what captivates her spirit with others. Her work has appeared in Chestnut Review, Meditation Magazine, San Pedro River Review, and I-70 Review. IG: @gerriepaino Jack Bordnick’s sculptures and photography incorporate surrealistic, mythological and magical imagery often with whimsical overtones — aimed at provoking our experiences and self-reflections. Aiming to unbalance our rational minds, the predominant imagery deals mostly with facial expressions of both living and “non-living” beings, and things that speak to us in their own languages. They are mixed media assemblages that have been assembled, disassembled and reassembled, becoming abstractions unto themselves. Kate Powell, Souvenir From A Walk. Kate lives and paints in Tacoma, WA. She is a student of Kimberly Trowbridge in the Trowbridge Atelier. Patricia Cannon, Point Cabrillo Lighthouse. Patricia has been a Registered Nurse at UCSF since 2001. She has worked in cardiac critical care, neuro intensive care, hemeoncology, school nursing, and currently, in research. Her passion is her faith, photography, and the written word in all its forms. She is fascinated by lighthouses not only because of their architecture but also for their purpose — Life-saving light.
Contents 0 1 L i f e M ar k W i l l i am s 0 4 L ost Patr i ar ch (y ) D av i d Foot l e 0 6 A D ance w i t h M y N i ece at th e H i gh M u seu m Ter i El am 0 8 D an ci n g at t h e Ri vol i L ai n e L u bar 10 M or n i n g W al k Ri t a M y er s 12 W or d s Fai l N i col e L om bar d i 14 Car i e H u m za A r f een 17 O n t h e B ook sh el f N ex t to M e/ A L i f e i n Son g D i ck A l tm an 18 L i st en i n g f or L ove St ep h an i e T r en ch ar d 21 Gor i l l a's Tear s: h ow th e w or l d got i t s n am es Peter Sh u k i e 26 D em en t i a Ron al d Z ack 28 A p er f ect i on i st 's d r eam L i n a Bu i v i d av i ?i u t ? 30 Fol l ow i n g t h e Sh ad ow of D ou bt Cl au d i a Saqu i cel a N ov i l l o 32 SH A D O W S Ch al l en ge i n cl u d i n g Jasm i n e M ar sh al l A r m st r on g, Regi n a M u n ch , N i co Sw an son , El i ta Su r at m an , Jai m e Gi l l
Beyond Words T he I nternational M agazine of Word & I mage
I SBN 9783948977535