Beyond Words Magazine, Issue 8

A r t w or k : M er esh ah M er y bal

Beyond Words

Issue8 November 2020

Bey on d W or d s ? I n ter n ati on al L i ter ar y M agazi n e I ssu e 8, N ovem ber 20 20 Ed i tor : Gal Sl on i m Read er s: T i f f i n i e A lvar ez, I sabel l e Bu r r ou gh s, Jessi ca K ash d an - Br ow n , Jad e W r i gh t

T i f f i n i e A l v ar ez i s a r ecen t col l ege gr ad u ate an d n ew En gl i sh teach er . Sh e cu r r en tly r esi d es i n Sp r i n gf i el d M assach u setts. H er w or k h as been f eatu r ed i n Bey on d W or d s L i ter ar y M agazi n e, Tem p er ed Ru n es L i ter ar y M agazi n e, an d an an th ol ogy ti tl ed ?Sti r r ed bu t N ot Sh aken ?. I n h er f r eeti m e sh e l i kes to p ai n t, scr ap book , an d d o oth er h om ebod y acti v i ti es.

I sab el l e B u r r o u gh s h ol d s a B.A . f r om th e U n i ver si ty of Cam br i d ge, w h er e sh e stu d i ed En gl i sh L i ter atu r e. W h i l e stu d y i n g, h er p assi on f or cr eati v i ty i n sp i r ed h er to p r od u ce h er ow n l i ter ar y an d ar ts m agazi n e, Sou l M i n e. Si n ce h er gr ad u ati on i n 20 19, sh e h as been l i v i n g w i th h er f am i ly i n N or f ol k , an d i s cu r r en tly w or k i n g i n cu stom er ser v i ces.

Jessi ca K ash d an - B r ow n i s a w r i ter , p oet, an d ed i tor , based i n Bath , U K . Sh e cu r r en tly co- r u n s U n l atch ed Pod cast, sh ar i n g sp oken w or d an d or i gi n al m u si c f r om on e h om e to an oth er d u r i n g th e p an d em i c, an d h as r ecen tly l au n ch ed an ex p er i m en tal col l abor ati ve p oetr y ser i es cal l ed th e Pr ed i cti ve Tex t Poetr y Pr oject. Sh e h as h ad h er w or k p u bl i sh ed i n var i ou s m agazi n es an d jou r n al s, i n cl u d i n g Pop sh ot M agazi n e, K am en a, an d N oth i n g i n th e Ru l ebook .

Jad e W r i gh t i s a cr eati ve w r i ti n g gr ad u ate w h o?ll r ead ju st abou t an y th i n g an d w r i tes m ostly p oetr y an d f l ash f i cti on . W h en sh e i s n ot r ead i n g or w r i ti n g, sh e sp en d s ever y avai l abl e m om en t w i th h er d og, w h o sh e ad op ted ear l i er th i s y ear . H er d ay job i s car i n g f or ti n y h u m an s, an d h er d r eam i s to p u bl i sh a p i ctu r e book sh e's w r i tten to r ead to th em ! H er p i ece of m i cr o- f i cti on h as r ecen tly been accep ted f or p u bl i cati on i n A f ter th e Pau se.

Cop y r i gh t © Bey on d W or d s Pu bl i sh i n g H ou se, Ber l i n , Ger m an y Fi r st p r i n ti n g, N ovem ber 20 20 I SBN 978- 3- 948977- 67- 2

O j i ch an Ch r i stop h er Ber ar d i n o You ar e th e f i r st of y ou r f am i ly to r etu r n .

I t h as been som e si x ty - f i ve y ear s si n ce y ou r f am i ly w as f r ei gh ted i n to th i s bad l an d .

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A n gel es i n to th e Son or an . I t i s a w i l d cou n tr y, al i en an d d r y, seem i n gly h em m ed on al l si d es by r i d ges f ly sp ecked w i th scr u b br u sh an d i r on w ood . A gai n st th e cl ou d l ess bl u e, gr oves of sagu ar os stan d l i ke cr u ci f i ed th i eves, th ei r l on g sh ad ow s str etch i n g d ow n i n to gl oom y ar r oy os. I t i s a p l ace ?w ay th e h el l ou t,? bey on d th e settl em en ts of even th e m ost f an ati cal d eser t f ol k w h o take p r i d e i n th ei r su n - bl each ed h om es an d

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both er ed to com e back . ?W h y go?? y ou r m oth er ask s y ou as y ou p ack h er car , ?th er e i sn ?t an y th i n g ou t th er e bu t gh osts an d san d . I t?s better to keep su ch th i n gs i n th e p ast. For get an d m ove on .? Bu t y ou ?ve n ever been on e to f or get an d alw ay s h ave tr ou bl e m ov i n g on . You ar e a col l ege gr ad u ate, y ou n g an d cu r i ou s an d h i gh on l ef ti st p ol i ti cs. You go becau se f or y ou , th e cam p s ex i st as n egati ve sp ace i n y ou r n ew ly f or ged sen se of sel f . You go becau se i t w as alw ay s th e th i n g n ot tal ked abou t, l i ke w ar or d i vor ce. You go becau se y ou ar e sel f i sh .

su n - bu r n t sk i n . I t i s a p l ace bey on d th e l ast gas stati on s an d n eon - si gn ed m otel s, i n to th e bl an k p ar ts of th e m ap m ar ked on ly as

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1

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bar r ack f l oor i n to th e cool ear th to

m on u m en t. I t i s an od d cem en t f i n ger

bu i l d a cel l ar , a p i t w h er e h e an d h i s

of a th i n g, l on ely an d gr ay, stan d i n g

n i n e si bl i n gs w i l l l i ve an d sl eep f or a

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p am p h l ets l ef t, an d a w h i te p en i s h as been sp r ay - p ai n ted on to i ts base. You p i ck u p beer can s an d ch i p bags an d a con d om

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agai n st a f ad ed p l acar d .

th e f ooth i l l s y i p l i ke l ost ch i l d r en .

You w al k i n th e h eat a l i ttl e f u r th er to th e bar r ack , p er h ap s th e l ast of i ts k i n d .

I t?s boar d s of p i n e ar e gn ar l ed l i ke ar th r i ti c f i n ger s. You squ at on y ou r h au n ch es i n th e r ed san d an d r u b y ou r th u m b

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You stay at a ch eap h otel i n n ear by Par ker , a sm al l p ass- th r ou gh k i n d of tow n . M ostly f ast f ood an d gas stati on s an d l i ttl e sh op s f or th e r i ver cr ow d to bu y f oam n ood l es. You si t on th e ed ge of y ou r bed , th e r ed d u st p ow d er i n g th e car p et an d com f or ter . You cal l y ou r gr an d f ath er an d tel l h i m y ou ?ve m ad e i t, th at y ou ar e th e f i r st to r etu r n . H e ap ol ogi zes i n Jap an ese an d tel l s y ou h i s m em or y i s gon e. You h an g u p th e p h on e an d ar e gr atef u l .

A r tw or k : Pau l a D eStef an i s 2

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T r an sm o gr i f i cat i o n o n t h e C o u ch Sam u el Jen n i n gs

O n th e l i v i n g r oom cou ch , of al l p l aces, an d h av i n g ju st sp oken w i th a f r i en d abou t tr i p s f ar an d w i d e, an d tr i p s f ar i n si d e, I ?m al ar m ed to d i scover m y sel f i n th e Su n , br an ch i n g ou t, f i er y r h od od en d r on , i n an d ou t of a tu n n el , m y ti m e p h asi n g m y w ay i n to h i stor y.

I am eer i e w i th m y sel f , el ectr om agn eti c sel f , m y ey es scan th e r oom as a w al l of i m p en etr abl e n ot- M e, so m u ch n ot- M e I can n ot con tai n i t!

Fi l l ed w i th th e sen se of becom i n g a f r og, a squ at ti m e- cr oaker , of m ar k i n g th e season s w i th h an d an d f oot, m y am p h i bi ou s soot, f r eed f r om th e w or d s to d escr i be i t i n ti m e? bu t n o l on ger f r ee to r ew i n d : on ly car ef u l ly p i eci n g m y d r i f tw ood sel f togeth er agai n , l ook i n g f or r eason s to cl ose th e d oor .

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A r tw or k : Ser ge L ecom te 5

I n th e af ter n oon su n , I h ave f ou n d th e w or l d ?s f i r st i n stan ce of u n i n v i ted m ed i tati on ? I am begged by a w ave of an an ci en t tr em bl e to eval u ate th e d i stan ce f r om m y sel f to th e star s? stagger i n g! I ?m ex p u n ged w i th th e n eed , an d th e th i r st to ex p l ai n , y et f or getti n g m y n am e, an d th e star s al l th e sam e?

Sti f f bl an ket, I , an d th e r oom bu r sts w i th l i gh t, w h i l e m y br ai n d oes Fr ed A stai r e on m y n er ves, m y p i l l ow ?s too ti gh t, th e jou r n ey th e m oon took to r each m e cou l d h ap p en i n m i n u tes, an d m y ti m e- tr avel p r esen t w ou l d sti l l see m e h er e.

A n d I ?m ter r i f i ed , m ostly, th e ch ar ge i n m y th i gh s, th e ter r i bl e ex p l ai n er w h ose th ou gh ts gi ve r i se to l ocu ti on s an d stati on s of cr osses, w h i ch m ay be w h er e I d i e, bu t u n ti l th en , I w an t to sp en d n o m or e ti m e al on e i n th e f ace of th i s d r eam th an I m u st, w h i ch m ean s I w an t y ou h er e, too.

A r tw or k : Sh u qi Gao 6

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Su n scr een A p p l i cat i o n O m ar K ay al

I w ou l d n ?t m i n d assu m i n g a f r eck l e on y ou r ch eek .

Sti l l , w h en y ou sm i l e l i ke th at to m e an d I d on ?t see i t Sti l l , w h en y ou cr y y ou r i n si d e tear an d I d o U n ear th ed m agm a, k i ck i n g, bu t n ot r ead y, I w ou l d n ?t m i n d assu m i n g a f r eck l e on y ou r ch eek as i t f or gets i t i sn ?t a tw i n k l i n g m ar vel i n th e M i l k y W ay.

I w ou l d n ?t m i n d h u ggi n g y ou W i th ou t ar m s to br i n g y ou i n W i th ou t a ch est to h ol d y ou ti gh t W i th ou t a ch eek to d r y y ou r ey es w i th , as i t r ol l ed d ow n th at tear i n si d e.

I w ou l d n ?t m i n d h u ggi n g y ou , A s y ou r f r eck l e, f or th e ti m e y ou bl i p p ed acr oss th e h or i zon .

For 'I f I D i d M i n d ', I 'l l l eave th i s f i l l ed tu be of su n scr een , to soak on Ear th , i n sw eet U V l i gh t an d scor ch i n g r egr et.

A r tw or k : M oti Bazak 8

N i gh t m ar es Jer em y Scott I n si d e m y bon es ar e beetl es ch om p i n g n oi si ly, el asti c n ovel s keep r ead i n g th em selves to m e, You ?r e n ot su p p osed to k n ow th at I ?m th e m on ster ,

ton i gh t th e m oon i s m ad e of velvet an d m y ch est ach es to tou ch i t, d i f f er en t sh ap es f ly i n f or m ati on l i ke L u f tw af f e p atr ol s th ey sp i l l th ei r secr ets ou t to m e i n an ar can e l an gu age on ly f r ogs u n d er stan d .

You on ly h ave on e ch an ce at r esu r r ecti on , Ci ty scr ap es th e sk y an d I can f ly d ow n i n i ts seed ed u n d er bel ly, th en aw ake, cover ed i n sw eat, p an ti n g, p an ti n g

A r tw or k : A n d r ea H of f 9

O u r T i m e i n T am ar i n d o B ay Pr eston Eagan M om l ed th e w ay, p ad d l i n g ou t i n to Tam ar i n d o Bay. H er br aw n y ar m s attach ed to a si n gl e p ad d l e cr eated a sh ad ow ah ead of m y k ay ak . I cou l d bar ely keep u p w i th h er as sh e p r op el l ed h er sel f ou t al on g th e r ock s.

Sh e sl ow ed d ow n to p oi n t ou t a sch ool of d ol p h i n s. T h er e w er e f ou r of th em , ju st ben eath th e su r f ace, an d on e of th ei r f i n s an d th en th ei r h ead br oke th e su r f ace of th e w ater , to take a br eath . T h e tr i p m ar ked th e m ost h al cy on ti m e of m y l i f e. T h er e w er e n o d eath s, n o tr i al s, an d n o u n h eal th y obsessi on s i n si gh t. T h i s w as a r ath er p eacef u l ti m e i n m y m oth er ?s l i f e as w el l .

I h ad n ?t seen h er th i s u n p ossessed i n al l m y l i f e.

Sh e tu r n ed th e k ay ak ou t to th e l ef t aw ay f r om th e r ock s, h ead i n g tow ar d s th e m i d d l e of th e bay. I an gl ed tow ar d s h er . Fi sh I d i d n ?t r ecogn i ze sw am ben eath m e. 50 y ar d s

ah ead of m e, M om qu i t p ad d l i n g, an d l ai d d ow n . M om ?s k n ees w er e p r op p ed u p , h er p ad d l e l ai d h or i zon tal at h er f eet. I took h ol d of th e r op e al on g h er k ay ak . M om tu r n ed h er gaze f r om th e sk y to m e. To th e w est of u s, bey on d Tam ar i n d o Bay an d th e Paci f i c O cean , th e su n d escen d ed . ?Took y ou l on g en ou gh , m y son ,? sh e sai d , sm i l i n g, an d l ook i n g back to th e sk y.

At th i s ti m e, m y m oth er w as m u ch m or e ath l eti c th an m e. Sh e cou l d l i f t m or e w ei gh t, r u n f ar th er , an d f aster too. I n a y ear , I ?d be abl e to l i f t m or e w ei gh t an d r u n f aster , bu t n ot f ar th er . W h en I w as 16, I r an a h al f m ar ath on w i th h er . Sh e f i n i sh ed abou t 27 m i n u tes bef or e m e, p l aci n g i n th e top 20 am on g w om en . T h er e w er e 432 w om en com p eti n g th at d ay. I ?ve tr i ed to beat h er ti m e of 1 h ou r an d 36 m i n u tes, bu t sti l l can ?t get w i th i n 10 m i n u tes of i t.

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M om san g a Jack Joh n son son g as w e f l oated tow ar d s th e ocean . ?A f ter al l of th i s ti m e. A f ter al l of th ese season s. A f ter y ou r on e d eci si on .? I l oved to h ear h er si n g, bu t r ar ely w as sh e i n th e m ood .For som e r eason , m ay be th e l i gh t, m ay be th e ocean , m ay be th e ti m e, bu t I n oti ced th at n ew w r i n k l es on h er f or eh ead , ar ou n d h er m ou th an d ey es h ad ap p ear ed .I n oti ced th e su n sp ots too on p ar ts of h er bod y th at sh e u sed to be ash am ed of sh ow i n g. I al so n oti ced th at h er abs th at sh e?d alw ay s coveted w er e obscu r ed ben eath a l ay er of f at.

T h er e w er e a f ew str an d s of gr ey h ai r too. O f cou r se, sh e sti l l l ooked ex tr em ely ath l eti c. Bu t at th i s ti m e, i n h er l i f e, sh e al l ow ed h er sel f to en joy f ood an d eat m or e w i th ou t beati n g h er sel f u p f or gai n i n g w ei gh t, i n an ef f or t to n ou r i sh h er bod y. Sh e w as d on e d estr oy i n g h er h eal th ju st to be i d eal i zed . T h e d ay s of p i ck i n g h er sel f ap ar t f or h ou r s i n th e m i r r or w er e beh i n d h er . Sh e w or ked ou t an d ate h eal th y n ot to m eet som e u n h eal th y bod y i d eal as sh e d i d i n th e p ast, bu t to be str on g.

T h e w om an f l oati n g n ex t to m e f i n al ly l oved h er sel f , a f eel i n g th at h ad el u d ed h er - h er en ti r e l i f e. A s m y m oth er al l ow ed th e

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

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gr ey n ess an d w r i n k l es to com e n atu r al ly, I f el l m or e i n l ove w i th h er too.U n f or tu n ately, w h at I d i d n ?t r ecogn i ze at th e ti m e, i s th at th at w h i l e w e w er e on ou r k ay ak s togeth er i n Costa Ri ca, som e k i n d of tr an si ti on of d i sor d er occu r r ed .

H er bod y d y sm or p h i a an d ad d i cti on d i f f u sed i n to m e. I t h as to go som ew h er e d oesn ?t i t? Bu t y ear s l ater , sh e?d save m e as I th r ash ed to stay af l oat, h er l i gh t w ou l d gu i d e m e h om e.

Br eak i n g th e r h y th m of th e ti d e, m y m oth er sai d , ?I th i n k I k n ow w h en I ?m goi n g to d i e.?

I w as u n m oved by th i s. M y n er ves f r om bei n g ou t i n th e ocean , w i th ou t a l i f e jacket, d i str acted m e f r om th e w ei gh t of h er p r em on i ti on . ?I t?s goi n g to be soon er th an I l i ke,? sh e sai d , p u tti n g h er k n ees d ow n , as sh e f l oated f u r th er ou t to sea. ?H ow w i l l y ou d i e?? I asked , as I ch ecked f or stor m s on th e h or i zon . ?I d on ?t k n ow, bu t i t?ll be p ai n l ess.?

Su d d en ly I f el t saf e, ad ju sti n g to th e ter r ai n . I l ai d d ow n as M om d i d an d sh u t m y ey es.

M oth M ou th Cal l u m Fou l d s I sh ar e m y r oom w i th m oth s, cr aw l i n g over T h e cu r tai n s, l ear n i n g to becom e th e w al l .

T h er e?s on ly cou gh i n g, f l u tter i n g th ei r p al e H an d s, i n f i n i te d u st, bu t p ossess n o d u ster .

Sen ti m en tal f r eck l es l i ke a jagu ar Cr aw l i n g u p i n to m y h ead to em bal m M y ey es w h er e tw o br ai l f aces si t an d star e T h r ou gh a m i l l i on n eed l e p oi n ted v i si on .

I l ove m y m oth ; I w ou l d n ?t be m e w i th ou t T h em . H ow th ey i n sp i r e m y d eep sl eep s an d sh ed A n d d r ap e th ei r sk i n i n th e ey e of a scou t.

A y ou n g bl ack ber r y f ace w h eed l es th r ou gh ou t M y l i f e an d van i sh es l i ke a su d d en Sh ock , sen d i n g m en i n to f r ai l ty an d d ou bt.

A r tw or k : H en r y L Jon es

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13

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M y B o o k i s Eat en by T er m i t es Ch r i stop h er T . Geor ge

T h ey ?ve d evou r ed th e w or d s I sw eated over ; w h oop s, th er e goes an oth er m etap h or to th e l i ttl e w h i te bu gger s i n ou r stor age, teem i n g i n a car d boar d box of m y book s: a book Pi cassoed by ter m i tes, ti tl e an d cover i l l u str ati on , Bl ake's Ancient of D ays gon e l i ke vacan ci es i n sp eech , m y au th or sh i p zap p ed i n to th e eth er , as i f m y w or d s an d n am e n ever ex i sted .

T h ey ?ve even ch om p ed th e sp aces Betw een th e w or d s- - stol en m y ver y br eath ; a r ed r oach bi g as m y th u m b scu ttl es by ; I qu i t th e h eav i n g h i ve, em ai l p r op er ty m an agem en t, p l an a cou n ter of f en si ve.

A r tw or k : Pau l a D eStef an i s

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212- 30 7- 5331 Ry an W estm or el an d

T h i s p h on e n u m ber d oesn ?t bel on g to u s an y m or e A n d n ei th er d o m y p ar en ts T h ey ar e car d boar d cu t- ou t f u n n y car i catu r es T h at I th i n k I m ad e u p i n m y h ead bor n at tw en ty - tw o H al f f or m ed an d W h at I w ou l d beg, bar ter an d bl ood l et Ju st to be tu cked i n at n i gh t on e m or e ti m e I d o n ot m i ss bei n g a ch i l d I m i ss bei n g l oved l i ke on e I m i ss bei n g som eon e?s ch i l d I am too ol d to be an or p h an So I w i l l l i ve l i ke th e r est of u s W i th a p ai n so m ou n tai n ou s I t cou l d take m e ou t w i th a f ew w or d s sai d i n m al i ce T h e r i gh t w or d s to p l u ck m y f eath er s, cu t m e op en , an d gu t m e For ton i gh t?s m eal .

A r tw or k : K ay l ee Av i l a 16

17

Aw ak en i n g Ch r i sta L u batk i n em p ath y p u sh ed to th e back of th e cl oset w or d s of cou r age l ay bal l ed u p on th e f l oor n obl e d r eam s l ef t asl eep on th e p i l l ow w ake u p w ake u p ex ten d th e h an d of ju sti ce to al l h u m an h u es an d ti n ts m ar ch sh ou l d er to sh ou l d er w i th h ar m on y an d d i ssen t i n a ju bi l an t ju m bl e of col or

A r tw or k : Joel l e Cath l een

18

19

In April Em i ly M . M . Roger s

I h ave a bad h abi t of h i gh h op es an d I ?m a v i cti m of w h at I on ce l oved .

D i d y ou see th e f or ecast l ast n i gh t?

T u esd ay cal l s f or an i d en ti ty cr i si s an d an ep i sod e of sever e sel f - aw ar en ess.

Br i n g an u m br el l a.

I u sed to be af r ai d of D r . Seu ss i l l u str ati on s an d tu r n i n g tw en ty - th r ee, bu t n ow I ?m ter r i f i ed of op en w ater an d Cosmopolitan m agazi n es? i t?s so easy to l ose y ou r sel f th ese d ay s.

I h ear d W ed n esd ay w i l l be p ar tly cl ou d y w i th a w ave of ap ath y an d a w ar m f r on t. W ear l ay er s, or p er h ap s con si d er a l i gh t jacket? i t?s better to be saf e th an sor r y.

I th ou gh t I saw y ou at th e cr oss- w al k y ester d ay so I w aved . I w atch ed th e n u m ber s cou n t d ow n , cau ti on i n g th e beau ti f u l p eop l e to m ove, to get ou t of th e w ay bef or e i t w as too l ate, bu t th e w ar n i n g w as i n ver ted .

I stu d i ed m y r ef l ecti on .

I t star ted to r ai n .

A r tw or k : Pau l a D eStef an i s 20

21

Gr ab b i n g a B i t e Scott Sei bel W h en I eat a san d w i ch , I th i n k abou t th e br ead an d i ts sp on ge str u ctu r e br an ch i n g of f i n to cave n ook s. T h e f l avor i s as m u ch ai r as d ou gh . I sm u sh i t d ow n a bi t.

I th i n k abou t th e cr u n ch of th e l ettu ce l eaves an d th e ear th y, sh ar p tom ato. Som eti m es I w on d er abou t th e d i stan ce i t tr avel ed to get i n to th i s san d w i ch , i f i t h as seen m or e of th e w or l d th an I .

I l i ck m ay o f r om l i p .

I l et th e sal am i sal ti n ess si t on m y bu d s. I i n v i te i t to l ou n ge l on ger i n m y bod y 's cou r ty ar d bef or e br i n gi n g i t i n si d e.

I take a d r i n k of col d w ater an d si t w i th el bow s on tabl e r ead y i n g m y sel f f or m or e bi tes, bod y cu r l ed ar ou n d l u n ch l i ke som eth i n g I m u st sh i el d f r om th e su n or l ooter s.

I d o n ot th i n k abou t th e p eop l e setti n g f i r es d ow n tow n ,

A r t w or k : Josh N i l es

W h en I eat a san d w i ch .

22

T h r ee D ay s B ef o r e t h e Fu n er al Sean Pagad u an Go ah ead , p ack an oth er on e. I

l i ke Jack i e's tr y i n g to cl i m b ou t

d ef i n i tely n eed i t r i gh t abou t n ow.

th e back of th e car ? Ever y on e

A n y w ay. I 'm i n Scotl an d f or th i s

th i n k s sh e?s tr y i n g to r u n . Bu t D ad

w or k con f er en ce, r i gh t? So I 'm

h ad th i s th eor y. I gu ess I ?ll n ever

w al k i n g f r om

th e h otel to th e

k n ow h ow h e cam e u p w i th th i s,

con ven ti on cen ter . A n d as I ?m

n ow. W h at h e sai d w as th at Jack i e

w al k i n g, I see th ese tw o r aven s i n

w as tr y i n g to get al l th e p ar ts of

th e m i d d l e of th e si d ew al k . O n e's

JFK ?s h ead th at?s bl ow n acr oss th e

d ead . A n d th e oth er on e's th i s ol d ,

back of th e car , al l th e br ai n s an d

r agged y, f at bi r d , sh e's tr y i n g to

sk u l l , so th at w h en th ey get to a

m ove th e d ead bi r d 's cor p se of f

h osp i tal , th ey can p u t h i m back

th e si d ew al k to th i s bi t of gr ass. I

togeth er . D ad sai d th at i f sh e w as

go to tr y an d h el p h er ou t, r i gh t?

r eal ly tr y i n g to r u n , sh e w ou l d

Bad i d ea. Sh e star ts w ai l i n g h er

h ave ju st ju m p ed ou t th e si d e.

h ead of f . T h e m ost aggr essi ve,

I m agi n e th at. I m agi n e seei n g th e

h or r i bl e k i n d of n oi se I h ave ever

p er son y ou l ove m ost?s f ace bei n g

h ear d any an i m al m ake. I back th e

bl asted of f , r i gh t n ex t to y ou , an d

f u ck of f , an d sh e l ook s at m e l i ke

y ou r f i r st r eacti on i s to get al l th e

come over here and try that again.

p i eces of h i s h ead , just in case

See what happens. Jesu s. L ater I 'm

th er e?s som e m i r acl e op er ati on

com i n g

th at can p u t h i m back togeth er .

back

f r om

th e

con f er en ce, an d th e bod y 's ly i n g i n th e p atch of gr ass. T h e oth er r aven 's sti l l th er e too. A n d sh e l ook s at m e agai n , al m ost l i ke sh e?s sor r y f or ear l i er .

Ever seen f ootage of w h en JFK w as sh ot? You k n ow h ow i t l ook s 23

You O K ? T h at?s a bi g h i t. T h at?s a bi g ass h i t. W h er e th e f u ck ar e y ou tr y i n g to go? You ?r e a f ool , y ou

k n ow

th at?

Gi m m e

th e

l i gh ter . Go

drink

som e

w ater

bef or e y ou en d u p d ead too.

N o H an d s, N o Ey es, N o L egs Ch ar l otte D er r i ck I

Ch r i sti an .

h an d s as gen tl e as h u m m i n gbi r d s an d

Ch r i sti an M cCl el l an d . T h at w as a n i ce

w ou l d

h ave n am ed

y ou

w r ap y ou i n a sh aw l to h an d to m e. M y

n am e. I k n ow y ou r gr an n y w ou l d h ave

Ch r i sti an , m y A l ber t, m y N i gel . Fi n al ly, I

ap p r oved . Bu t I ?ll ad m i t, I toy ed w i th

w as r ead y to m eet y ou . I ?d n ever been

oth er n am es, d af t ti tl es l i ke N i gel an d

m or e r ead y f or an y th i n g i n m y l i f e.

A l ber t. You w ou l d h ave r esen ted m e at f i r st, gi v i n g y ou an el d er ly m an ?s n am e at on e d ay ol d , bu t y ou w ou l d h ave f ou n d th e h u m ou r i n i t w h en y ou w er e ol d er .

Bu t y ou d i d n ?t ar r i ve i n a h osp i tal .

You

cam e

on

Box i n g

D ay

in

y ou r

gr an n y ?s h ou se. W e w er e at th e d i n i n g tabl e, y ou r gr an n y, y ou r gr an d a, y ou r

?N i gel ? W h o l ook s at a baby an d

au n t,

an d

m e,

p l ay i n g

gam es

an d

th i n k s h e?s a N i gel ?? y ou ?d h ave l au gh ed ,

d r i n k i n g too m u ch p r osecco, sp ar k l i n g

an d I w ou l d h ave l au gh ed w i th y ou . To

w ater f or m e.

gi ve

me

cr ed i t,

it

w as

better

th an

an y th i n g th on f ath er of y ou r s w ou l d h ave gon e f or . N ow th at w ou l d h ave been d af t.

I m agi n e

a

w ee

A n w ar n ach

or

T h u r l ow M cCl el l an d r u n n i n g ar ou n d th e Fal l s. I w asn ?t h av i n g an y of th at.

You r

ar r i val

w asn ?t

l i ke I

T h e cr am p s cam e i n w aves. T h e m i d w i f e h ad tol d m e i t w as n or m al . I t w as m y bod y ?s w ay of accom m od ati n g y ou i n th ose ear ly m on th s, to keep y ou saf e an d al l ow y ou r oom to gr ow i n th e f i r st h om e y ou w ou l d ever k n ow, bu t th e

h ad

i m agi n ed . I t w as d i f f er en t. You w er e

m or e m y stom ach con tr acted , I k n ew m y bod y cou l d n o l on ger keep y ou .

d i f f er en t.

I r u sh ed to th e bath r oom

an d

I su p p ose I p i cked i t u p f r om f i l m s

l ocked th e d oor . You r gr an n y cal l ed u p

I h ad w atch ed an d book s I h ad r ead . I

th e stai r s, ?A r e y ou al r i gh t, l ove?? as I

h ad y ou r gr an n y on on e si d e of m e, y ou r

cl am ber ed

f ath er on th e oth er . T h ey h el d on e of m y

ar ou n d m y an k l es, an d bi t a f r esh w h i te

h an d s i n each of th ei r s, tel l i n g m e to

tow el betw een m y teeth .

p u sh , keep p u sh i n g, I ?m al m ost th er e, as th e p ai n , th e p ai n of th e w h ol e w or l d an d m or e sw el l ed

i n si d e of

m e, p r essed

i n to

th e

bath ,

my

jean s

N o h an d s, n o ey es, n o l egs ? y ou w er e a cl u ster of bl ood y cl ots sp r ead ou t on th e p or cel ai n f l oor .

th r ou gh m e, tr y i n g to get ou t, w h i l e I M y Ch r i sti an , m y A l ber t, m y N i gel .

scr eam ed f or y ou , f or y ou r voi ce, f or y ou r l i ttl e bod y to h ol d agai n st m i n e.

A n d y ou m et m y scr eam s w i th y ou r ow n , a scr eam f or ai r , f or m e.

I h ad th e n u r ses w ash y ou w i th

N ot a h an d or an ey e or a l eg to y ou r n am e.

I scoop ed y ou f r om th e bottom of th e bath an d h el d y ou cl ose an d w ep t.

24

A r tw or k : Sh u qi Gao 25

Ecd y si s El l en D i am on d I r ead th at r ep ti l es cl ean th ei r h ou se bef or e attem p ti n g cer tai n task s, l i ke sh ear i n g of f l ast season ?s sk i n .

I n com p l i an ce w i th r ep ti l i an RN A , I scoop str ay ti ssu es, ch an ge ou t sh eets an d p i l l ow cases, cl i m b to w i p e th e k i tch en cl ock an d f i n i sh w ash i n g w i n d ow si l l s bef or e I sh ed th e sad n ess of l ast su m m er ?s u n com p l eted l ove an d toss th e u n r ead w i sd om s i n th ose ol d N ew Yor ker m agazi n es.

A r tw or k : Si m a Sch l oss 26

27

N ev er M y sel f W i n n i e Gr ey

th e on ly p er son i am f i t to be i s d i si l l u si on ed d i sen ch an ted d i sen f r an ch i sed m ay be- sor ta- p r etty gi r l y ou see d r i f ti n g th r ou gh a n am el ess ai r p or t at tw o i n th e m or n i n g: h ead p h on es i n an d sn eaker s scu f f ed an d h an d s sh ak i n g an d ey ebr ow s f u r r ow ed . i w as n ever m ean t to be an y th i n g m or e th an a car i catu r e of m y ow n i d eal i sti c cr eati on ; on ly ever th e i m age of a th i n g, n ever th e th i n g i tsel f .

A r tw or k : D eep ti Bi sta

28

29

t h ese ar e so m e o f t h e t h i n gs I d i d w h en I w as i n Gr eece A n n Ped on e th e sea i s th i ck an d a d ar ker sh ad e of bl u e th an th e oth er p h otos an d y es, I can see th e m oon r i gh t th er e; gi ve m e y ou r h an d I ?m goi n g to m ove i t u p i n si d e m y sk i r t a bi t I ?ve been to th at beach w as th er e w h en I w as f i r st m ar r i ed I ?m u n cr ossi n g m y l egs n ow I r em em ber th er e w er e oy ster s l em on s boi l ed cor n gr een an d bl ack ol i ves l on g gr easy an ch ov i es; th e sal t on th e tabl e w as h eav y i t stu ck to m y ton gu e l et m e p u l l m y sk i r t u p m or e l i ke th i s th en y ou can see i t better I d r an k too m u ch at d i n n er on e n i gh t; I w oke u p w i th a m an on top of m e; w e m u st h ave been n ear th e sea th e w ater l ooked sw ol l en i n th e n i gh t; I r em em ber sn atch es of f l esh , bl u e an d p i n k an d th en h e p r om i sed m e som eth i n g; d on ?t tou ch i t, n ot y et I w an t to be abl e to w atch y ou w h en y ou d o i t th e m an , th e m an on th e beach h e w asn ?t m y h u sban d I h el d an oy ster i n m y h an d ti n y an d p al e gr ay i t w as w ar m i t f el t l i ke a n ew egg; I ?m goi n g to l i e d ow n n ow so i t i s r i gh t i n f r on t of y ou r f ace; I saw tw o gr een f i sh sw i m m i n g i n a p on d u p f r om th e sh or e; th ey w er e sw i m m i n g sw i m m i n g i n con cen tr i c ci r cl es; y ou can com e i n to m e n ow d o y ou see h ow I h ave sp r ead m y l egs; th e f i sh w er e sw i m m i n g th ei r m ou th s op en i n g an d op en i n g; I d i d n ?t k n ow h ow to r esp on d ; d on ?t h ol d y ou r sel f back ; y es, gr ab m y sh ou l d er s th er e i s a th eor y i n sem i oti cs th at i f y ou th i n k abou t a w or d ; l i ke ecstasy ; i f y ou th i n k abou t i t h ar d en ou gh th en som e ti m es th e w or d becom es th e th i n g th at i t si gn i f i es; l et m e tou ch i t w h i l e y ou ?r e d oi n g i t; d o y ou see; th i s i s h ow y ou l ear n to l ove som eon e w h en w e cam e back f r om th at tr i p I h ad a l ot of p i ctu r es w i th m e; p i ctu r es I h ad taken w i th a sm al l cam er a; i t w as a Pen tax ; i t h ad a l on g bl ack str ap bu t I n ever bou gh t a f l ash f or i t; I took a l ot of p i ctu r es on th at tr i p ; bu t th ey w er en ?t l i ke y ou r s n on e of th em w er e of th e m oon .

30

A r tw or k : Van L an i gh 31

Ru l es t o L i v e B y M ad el i n e Ew an y sh y n

32

she?s eight years old-

just a picky eater, who will forget m y ti m e i n th e h osp i tal i s th e sh ad ow of a cr ou ch i n g ch i l d .

I con su m ed on ly oth er p eop l e?s stor i es, l i ke th e on es abou t th e tw elve l i ttl e gi r l s i n tw o str ai gh t l i n es, th e sm al l est on e w as

borderline?

she?s a peculiar, particular girl w h o tol d h er sel f : p l ease d on ?t eat an y th i n g th at on ce l i ved , f or f ear of i t cr eep i n g ou t y ou r th r oat, scr eam i n g p l ease d on ?t p u t an y th i n g i n y ou r stom ach th at d oesn ?t f i t on th ose ti m i d , ti n y sal ad p l ates.

a girl her age

should speak when spoken to, and always follow the rules: N ap k i n s ar e a gi r l ?s best f r i en d .

Sl i p th e l ettu ce betw een y ou r teeth , bu t bew ar e of th e r i ce an d p otatoes.

Si m p ly tu ck aw ay w h at y ou r ath er w as n ot th er e.

D i sap p ear i n g i s som eth i n g y ou can l ear n .

when she gains back the weight -

she will let go of her disease p assed on f r om m y m oth er , an d h er m oth er too, an d th e w om en bef or e th em w h o k n ew th at to star ve i s to w i n th e gam e.

33

A r tw or k : Joel l e Cath l een 34

t h r ee p o em s A l i x K l i n gen ber g

C o l d f eet I ach e f or m oon beam s an d i n d i go- f l avor ed gl aci er s.

I am d r aw n to th e d ar k n ess L i ke star s w i th col d l i ttl e f eet.

C h i l d h o o d m i n n ow s I step i n to th e r i ver of ti m e an d f eel th e y ear s sw i m p ast m y an k l es, ch i l d h ood m i n n ow s an d eel s of ad u l th ood .

I l ay d ow n on m y back an d l et th e eon s take m e back to th e begi n n i n g, to y ou .

Ph an t o m gu i t ar T h e str i n g on m y gu i tar bu zz al m ost i n au d i bly W h en tr u ck s r ol l by ou tsi d e m y w i n d ow, L i ttl e qu akes i n th e f ou n d ati on A h u m m i n g i n m y bel ly.

I m i ss th e f l ow of m agi c th at op en ed l i ke a br i d ge of l i gh t w h en ever I h ear d y ou r voi ce, T h e jol t of p u r e u n ad u l ter ated joy I f el t at seei n g y ou r f ace.

You ar e a bu zzi n g i n m y sou l , Cosm i c gu i tar str i n gs sti l l h u m m i n g W i th p h an tom m em or i es of y ou r sof t str u m .

35

Q u an t u m L eap N i n a Yavel T h e w om an I l ove D r aw s tr ees, D r aw s th ei r l i m bs, Sketch es th ei r th i gh s, br easts, Ci r cl es th ei r bod i es Sh e d r aw s th em i n h er si l en ce, W i th th e k i ss of h er p en Gr acef u l ly an d gen tly, T r aces th e m u scl es, T h ei r l on g n eck s, T h e w om an I l ove D r aw s tr ees, D r aw s m e i n to l i f e, Ci r cl es m y h ear t, L oves m e i n to th e l i gh t Sh e d r aw s m e i n h er si l en ce.

I n h er l au gh ter , Sh e cr eates m e.

Sh e tr aces m y bod y : M y l i m bs M y th i gh s Ci r cl es m y br easts.

T h e w om an I l ove D r aw s tr ees.

D r aw s th e h ol l ow, Bu d s Stem s of aw aken i n g.

A r tw or k : D y l an A l ber tson

36

37

H i gh w ay 4 31 T ow ar d s H ead l an d D esi r e A m ei gh

I cou n t f ou r f u n er al h om es betw een m y f r on t d oor an d th e cof f ee sh op i n D ow n tow n D oth an w h er e th e col d br ew tastes l i ke Au sti n , Tex as an d th e r ed velvet w h oop ee p i es ar e p er f ectly stal e w i th sw eet bu tter cr eam cen ter s th at m ake cav i ti es seem l i ke ju st a r ou ti n e si d e- ef f ect of su m m er ti m e sad n ess.

O r m ay be i t?s PM S th at m akes th ese gu m s p u l se, ti gh ten l i ke Vel cr o ar m cu f f s ar ou n d th e r oots to take bl ood p r essu r e f r om bod y p ar ts so of ten f or gotten as su n ken sh i p s i n sl ow - tr af f i c can al s m ad e of w ater too br ow n an d gr een an d am oeba- h eav y to d r i n k .

W h en I w as r ead y to l eave th e ci ty, I f i n al ly r en ted a k ay ak an d f l oated an d p ad d l ed m y w ay to th e m i d d l e of L ad y Bi r d L ake, w h er e th e ed ges ar e th e ban k s of th e bat ci ty r eser voi r , so th i ck w i th p ol l u tan ts p ou r ed over f r om a p ol i ti cal en i gm a? bl u e betw een r ed an d r ed an d r ed - l i gh ts sw i n gi n g th e w ay r ed - l i gh ts d o i n oth er p l aces? l i ke Fl or i d a an d A l abam a an d Col or ad o. M y r oom m ate th er e w as f r om Bu l gar i a, an d sh e h ad n ever seen th e i n si d e of a d r i ve- th r u car w ash or th e Atl an ti c O cean . I ?ve l i ved i n som e ci ti es agai n an d agai n , as i f r etu r n i n g w ou l d alw ay s be an op ti on , n ot ju st a l u x u r y etch ed i n to taste bu d s th at ch an ge ever y seven y ear s? I w on d er h ow l on g each n ose h ai r stay s, an d w h er e th ey al l go, or w h y th ey ar e n ot w i sh f u l as ey el ash es sti ck y on sap p y ch eek sk i n . I n th e Jew i sh cem eter y above th e cr acked br i ck w al l , th er e?s a d ead Bl u e Jay, a f east f or gn ats an d f i r e an ts bor ed by th e tex tu r e of h ead ston es over gr ow n w i th v i n es n ear on e of th e h ead s of th e Yoh ol o M i cco h i k i n g tr ai l .

A r tw or k : A n gel a V. Scar d i gn o 38

39

Jasm i n e A l ek Ri d et

Jasm i n e w as a w om an Sh e w or e f l ow er s as h er scen t Jasm i n e w as a d el i gh t Sh e h ad bl ack ey es A n d d ar k h ai r D ar ker th an th e n i gh t I saw i t on ce A n d sh al l be l ast Besi d e on e m an th at stol e Jasm i n e ou t of m y si gh t 40

A r tw or k : K i m Roger A bi Z ei d D aou

Run! The following four pieces are the winners of our running-themed 250-word creative writing challenge!

A r tw or k : Ser ge L ecom te

41

I w at ch y o u r u n D or een D u f f y I w atch y ou r u n , th e l en gth of y ou r l i f e each y ear a boar d i n a bl each ed w ood en d ock m y l egs str etch i n to r i p p l i n g w ater s f eet si n k sl ow ly to stead y m y sel f i n an u n d er cu r r en t tr y i n g to p u l l m e i n above m y n eck I w atch y ou r bar e f eet, sk i p p i n g over f r ay ed r op es, tor n , by th e k n ot i n m y th r oat, Sol es soar p r ecar i ou sly acr oss l oose boar d s I ?m ter r i f i ed to w atch A n an ch or l ess boat car r i es m y w or d s i n w aves I w on ?t be abl e to stop , bl u e, w i th p eel i n g p ai n t, i t d r i f ts ou t of r each of m y h ear t a ju tti n g r ock I w atch y ou r u n th e l en gth of y ou r l i f e each d ay a boar d i n a bl each ed w ood en d ock .

A r tw or k : Sabr i n a Jov i c

42

43

Escap i n g t h e D ar k Evely n H am p ton d u sk su r r en d er ed i ts l i gh t as th e stor m su bsi d ed ten y ear s ol d l ate f or a bi r th d ay p ar ty I began r u n n i n g i n th e d ar k tow ar d th e h ou se d ow n ou r l on g cou n tr y r oad str eetl i gh ts n on - ex i sten t m oon l i gh t obscu r ed i n sects si n gi n g i n m y ear s l egs p u m p i n g i n bl i n d r ep eti ti on f l ai l i n g i n to a sea of n i gh t h an d s an d f eet n o l on ger v i si bl e

sw al l ow ed u p by th e bl ack n ess

I en ter ed a str an ge d i m en si on

en vel op ed i n even i n g?s ebon y sh r ou d

of com p l ete n oth i n gn ess

si gh tl ess on th at Sep tem ber eve

l i ke r u n n i n g on a cosm i c tr ead m i l l p er h ap s p ow er i n g eter n i ty

com f or ted on ly

af r ai d to stop an d be f or ever l ost

by sn eaker s h i tti n g sol i d gr ou n d to th e beat of m y p ou n d i n g h ear t f i n al ly a si n gl e gl ow em er ged gr ow i n g cl oser w i th each str i d e p or ch l i gh t i n th e d i stan ce i l l u m i n ati n g escap e th at ol d jou r n ey r ecal l ed w h en on ce agai n f or ces of d ar k n ess en gu l f ed m e an d y ou becam e th e su n

A r tw or k : Ch r i stop h er W ood s 44

45

Ru n - Gr een W o r l d D i an e d e A n d a

I r u n to y ou , w ar m - ar m ed , n ear , th r ou gh th e sw ay - bob of th e y el l ow n osed d ai si es; To y ou ben d i n g over m e ben eath th e tr ee th at w i n d - tou ch es th e str eam ; To y ou i n th e l ad y - bu l bed d ev i l gr ass th at w i n d - qu i ver s d ew acr oss m y l egs, r u n n i n g To y ou su n - ch i sl ed i n to th e bl u e sh ad ow of th r ee o'cl ock , to th e gol d r ou n d cu r ve of y ou r ar m .

Bu t i f y ou sh ou l d cal l to m e acr oss th e cl u tter ed gar age or th e r u tted con cr ete r oad , th r ou gh th e br i ttl e bl i n k i n g of th e n eon n i gh t or agai n st th e w i n d - l ash of th e ch af ed gr ou n d I w i l l r u n to y ou th r ou gh th e gr een w or l d of l ove's ey e.

A r tw or k : M i ch el l e Sp i zi r i 46

47

Peb b l es Jad e W r i gh t

T h e d ay af ter y ou d i ed , I took a sh ar p i e to th e beach an d w r ote y ou r n am e on ever y p ebbl e I cou l d f i n d . T h e sea r oar ed y ou r n am e an d i t f el t good to be p ar t of y ou r ech o.

I tr i ed to stack th e p ebbl es. I t?s h ow I en d ed u p h er e, i n a h otel r oom w i th h al f a w i n d ow an d l u kew ar m w ater . I p r om i sed m y sel f , i f I cou l d stack ten p ebbl es th en I w ou l d stay an d f ace th e m u si c. Ad m i t i t al l . T r y an d m ake th em see th at I d i d n ?t m ean i t. A n y l ess th an ten an d I ?d h ave to r u n . I ju st h op e y ou k n ow th at I d i d n ?t m ean to h u r t y ou . I on ly m an aged to stack seven .

A r tw or k : Ton y M u r r ay

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WRITERS Christopher Berardino is a writer of Japanese-American descent from Orange County, CA. He received an MFA in Fiction from Cornell University in 2018. His work has previously appeared in Flash Fiction, The Copperfield Review, FLARE: The Flagler Review, Pilgrimage, Every Writer’s Resource, and others.

Samuel Jennings is a teacher and writer in St. Louis, Missouri, as well as a graduate of the master’s program in music at the University of Missouri, Columbia. While there, he was lucky enough to participate in publishing internships and workshops with a few esteemed writers and poets, which got him serious about writing: essays, poetry, fiction, novels, anything. His first steps as a writer were-appropriately--concerned with music: he was first published in Artifacts, the official Mizzou Journal and has run several music and culture blogs since, including The Reluctant Modernist and Pop Cult, the first edition of which was selected as one of Medium's top music features.

Omar Kayal is an engineering drop-out turned economics alumnus turned banker turned screenwriting masters alumnus turned website salesman, who likes to write what you might consider to be poems, to express internal goings-on, in relation to the world. Otherwise, 27. Lebanese. Living in Dubai.

Jeremy Scott is from Albany, Georgia. He is a full-time writer and poet currently working on his debut poetry collection. He has been previously featured in eris & eros literary review.

Preston Eagan is a 2017 Best of the Net nominee. He is an editor at Cleaver Magazine. He's been published in Bookends Review, Cleaver Magazine, Silver Needle Press, and the Marr's Field Journal.

Callum Foulds lives in Northamptonshire, England. He is about to enter his final year of an Arts and Humanities degree with the Open University, whilst writing and producing his own music on the side.

Christopher T. George was born in Liverpool, England, in 1948. He emigrated to the United States in 1955, but returned home to experience the Swinging Sixties. He re-emigrated to the US in 1968 and studied poetry with Sister Maura Eichner and Elliott Coleman; his writing. has been published in journals worldwide.

Ryan Westmoreland loves reading, artisan cheeses, and napping. Her work has previously been published in The Tiny Journal. Find her at twitter.com/reeltuffcookie Christa Lubatkin is a poet of German birth living in Arizona. Her passion is hiking and writing. She has been published in various journals, such as Haunted Waters Press, Paterson Literary Review, and The Write Launch.

Emily M. M. Rogers is a lover and teacher of literature, a resident of Canton, Ohio, and a selfproclaimed optimist. After spending 6 years studying literature and poetry, she hopes to make a contribution to the field that has shaped her life. In her spare time she travels, reads, writes, and spends days with those who make her happiest.

Scott Seibel is an educator, writer and designer living on the red dirt of the Oklahoma panhandle.

Sean Pagaduan completed the MFA program at New York University in 2014. Since then, he has worked as an immigration paralegal at Tarter, Krinsky and Drogin, and an administrative assistant at Union Theological Seminary. He is currently working on a novel about furries.

Charlotte Derrick is an emerging prose writer from Belfast, Northern Ireland. She was the winner of Spread the Word's Life Writing Prize 2019, and her work has been featured in The Honest Ulsterman, The Open Ear, Wards Lit, The Esthetic Apostle and Coming Out. Ellen Diamond is a writer and musician who has lived in New York City for over 60 years. Since retiring, she has studied poetry more seriously at the 92Y, where her work has appeared in their collection: Illusions. In addition, she has been published in the journal Pulse: voices from the Heart of Medicine, Our Town Newsletter, and the NY Times Metropolitan Diary.

Winnie Grey divides her time between writing the kinds of stories she needed growing up, listening to her music too loud, and working in a local coffee shop. She hopes everyone can simultaneously find a home and an escape in her stories.

Ann Pedone graduated from Bard College and has a Master’s degree in Chinese from UC Berkeley.

Ann is the author of the chapbook The Bird Happened. Her work has appeared in Ornery Quarterly, Riggwelter, Main Street Rag, Poet head, and Cathexis Northwest, and The Wax Paper, among others.

Madeline Ewanyshyn is a Canadian writer who works at a library. In 2019, she graduated with a BA in Creative Writing from Kwantlen Polytechnic University. She has been published in literary magazines including The Liar, pulpMAG, Sea to Sky Review, The Opal Club, and The Lyre.

Alix Klingenberg is a Unitarian Minister, a spiritual director, a poet, and a photographer. She is also queer and polyamorous and writes on themes of love, loss, commitment, healing, and family systems.

Dr. Nina Yavel is a poet, writer and clinical psychologist who treats children and adolescents. She is a member of The Poets of Well Being, woman who are writers, therapists and educators who share their own experiences of recovery. An eclectic lyrical poet, she writes poems about her many interests, nature, mental illness, god, quantum mechanics and anything else she feels connected to.

Desire Ameigh is an instructor at Wallace Community College. Her work has been published in Prometheus Dreaming and recorded for WFSU's Fresh Picked Prose.

Alek Ridet is a French writer and poet living in New York City. His works revolve around spirituality, growth and love, mixing eastern and western teachings and ideologies. He hopes that his work will inspire others to live more fully.

Doreen Duffy studied creative writing and poetry at Oxford online, UCD & NUIM. Published internationally, she won The Jonathan Swift Award and was presented with The Deirdre Purcell Cup at Maria Edgeworth Literary Festival. Shortlisted in Francis MacManus Competition 2017, her story Tattoo was broadcast on RTE Radio One. She is studying for her Masters in Creative Writing at DCU. Visit her at http://doreenduffy.blogspot.com/ Evelyn Hampton (Wanamassa, NJ) is a member of the Jersey Shore Poets. Her publications include Monmouth Review, The Lyric, Poeming Pigeon and Stories of Music Vol I. She is inspired to take pen to paper by the restorative power of humor, music, nature and human connections.

Diane de Anda, a retired UCLA professor and third generation Latina, has edited four books and published numerous articles in scholarly journals, and short stories, poetry, and essays in Rosebud, Straylight, Storyteller, Pacific Review, Bilingual Review, Frogpond, Modern Haiku, Bottle Rockets, Presence, Ruminate, Third Wednesday and others, eleven children’s books (plus 3 in press) which have won multiple awards, satires on a regular basis in Humor Times, and a collection of 40 flash fiction stories, L.A. Flash.

Jade Wright is a dog loving, bow collecting Creative Writing graduate with a passion for all things literary.

VISUAL ARTISTS Cover art: The Forbidden Fruit by Mereshah Merybal. Mereshah Merybal is a poet, artist and a law student from the city of Chennai in South India. She holds a degree in English and is interested in existentialism, political philosophy and legal studies.

Paula DeStefanis, Departure 2016; Days in Blue; Transitions. Paula works by doing a series of paintings with the same concept running through each piece. This allows her to explore approaches in the work.

She uses repetition and layering to symbolize time, duration and change. As the artist making the work, the unpredictability and potential sense of discovery is very exciting and one of the main reasons why she does what she does.

Serge Lecomte, Mutations; Shadows. Serge is a poet, novelist, playwright and painter. After living in Alaska for forty years, he now lives in Bellingham, WA. Website: https://sergelecomte.weebly.com Shuqi Gao, Returning to Source; Transmuting Reality. Shuqi is an artist from Brooklyn, New York. She graduated and received an MFA Publishing Fellowship for AMP: Always Electric at Hofstra University.

Her poetry has appeared in Plume and AMP: Always Electric. Her art focuses on psychology, spirituality and current issues.

Moti Bazak, Miscalculation. Moti was born in 1965. It was just a couple of years ago (2017) that Moti started to practice art, by doing some experiments with pieces of wood, assembled together in different forms and color combinations. Moti is fascinated by the nature of wood pieces and everyday objects; “Every piece comes with its special morphology and unique story behind it, and its displacement into my works gives me the possibility to connect to the story and history but in the same time to “fix” it, in my own way". Next natural step was photographing those objects in intriguing context. Since then Moti has won several art competitions and participated in several group shows in Europe and the US. Andrea Hoff, Future Tense. Andrea is a Canadian artist, graphic novelist and writer. She lives and works next to the Salish Sea on the unceded territory of the Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, and Musqueam Nations. With her bright palette and a fierce heart, she has traveled the world, finding stories and friendships in the most unexpected places. You can find her words and pictures in places like The Tyee, Broken Pencil, Room Magazine, Display Canadian Design, The Oxford Writers' Network, and Netflix.

Lawrence Bridges, Blue Lagoon. 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.

Henry L Jones, Together we Rise. Henry is an award-winning African American artist and writer who is inspired by forces which shape society. A 2019-2020 Art Wire Fellow of the Porch Writers Collective and OZ Arts Nashville Center, Jones reaches deeply into moments to write and paint about many subjects. His artwork, which was created by his Gib technique, has hung in museums, galleries, universities in the United States and abroad and found in public and private collections.

Kaylee Avila, Silenced Song. Kaylee Avila (she/her) is an artist, writer and student, currently studying English literature and creative writing at Trinity University in San Antonio, TX. She is the current editorin-chief of the little magazine High Noon (www.tuhighnoon.com), and a big believer in the idea that storytelling is a powerful tool for fostering empathy and community.

Joelle Cathleen, Stained I; The Crow Knows; Forgotten; Guitar. Joelle is a Virginia based Acrylic Painter who specializes in visual storytelling. She likes to capture personal moments, moods and mental "snapshots" - whether real, imagined or inspired.

Josh Niles, Tactile and Tasty. Josh’s work primarily focuses on Existentialism and the many forms it can take. Primary medium is oil paint and traditional mediums. Visit him at joshnilesart.com Sima Schloss, It's not about the conversation but the invitation . Sima has been making art since childhood. She received her MFA in Painting from Lehman College in Bronx, NY and has been featured group exhibitions throughout the United States. She is currently represented by Beacon Gallery in Boston, Massachusetts.

Deepti Bista, Silence II. Dipti (@the_birdy_arts) is a dreamer who is just dreaming.

Van Lanigh, The air near my fingers. Inspired by great masters as Vrubel and Monet, Van creates figurative and landscape pieces. Her unique style is a reaction to abstractionism in an attempt to capture surrealistic yet casual reality. This is especially underlined by new forms and materials used in Van’s artworks aimed to achieve the viewer’s resonance between visual effect and message of the painting.

Dylan Albertson, Material Girl. Dylan is a visual and performance artist based out of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, whose works explore topics of identity, queerness, capitalism and technology, frequently set to a backdrop of science fiction. They have been drafting pieces about these topics in particular since 2016 - their visual art exists in traditional mediums and new media, and their performance work ranges from aerial arts to drag. Through their work, be it illustrative or performative, they seek to analyze the human condition, both on an interpersonal and introspective level.

Angela V. Scardigno, The River. Angela graduated as a Graphic Designer from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 2006. While she attended the University, she took several art workshops taught by masters such as Lautaro Fiszman, Aníbal Cedrón, and Carlos Terribili. Later she moved to the United States, where she completed a MFA degree at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in 2019.

Kim Roger Abi Zeid Daou, Upward Spiral. Kim is a storyteller, artist and PhD student at McGill University. For more information, please visit her website www.beirutarchivist.wordpress.com Sabrina Jovic, Dock. Sabrina is from Canada. She struggles with mental illness but finds peace of mind in creating art through mixed media, music, faith and writing. She has had her artwork featured on the cover of Open Minds Quarterly and Unlimited Literature. Sabrina’s works can be found in diverse publications as Open Minds Quarterly, Wordpeace and Beyond Words Literary Magazine. Sabrina creates abstract works that express emotion through colour, markings, and bold textures influenced by music.

Christopher Woods, Shutter Shadows. Christopher is a writer and photographer from Texas. His photographs may be seen in his galleries - http://christopherwoods.zenfolio.com/ Michelle Spiziri, The Upside Down. Michelle is a Baltimore, Maryland area-based artist. She is a painter who uses a mix of different wet and dry mediums. Michelle creates art work that excites, evokes, and challenges the viewer. Many times she is struck by an impromptu phrase, word, or memory that sparks an idea for a new painting. Time in the studio is dedicated to contemplation, researching, and pushing the limits of visual expression.

Tony Murray, Perseverance. 'Culture is a reflection of history, art is the light that enters it, artists are the prism that give it dimension and scope.' Tony is a self-taught artist. His media includes: Sculpture, Scratchboard, Photography, Sculptography and videography. His work normally begins with a title. He then goes about applying media to represent that vision.

Contents 0 1 O ji ch an Ch r i stop h er Ber ar d i n o 0 4 T r an sm ogr i f i cati on on th e Cou ch Sam u el Jen n i n gs 0 8 Su n scr een A p p l i cati on O m ar K ay al 0 9 N i gh tm ar es Jer em y Scott 10 O u r T i m e i n Tam ar i n d o Bay Pr eston Eagan 12 M oth M ou th Cal l u m Fou l d s 15 M y Book i s Eaten by Ter m i tes Ch r i stop h er T . Geor ge 16 212- 30 7- 5331 Ry an W estm or el an d 18 Aw aken i n g Ch r i sta L u batk i n 20 I n A p r i l Em i ly M . M . Roger s 22 Gr abbi n g a Bi te Scott Sei bel 23 T h r ee D ay s Bef or e th e Fu n er al Sean Pagad u an 24 N o H an d s, N o Ey es, N o L egs Ch ar l otte D er r i ck 26 Ecd y si s El l en D i am on d 28 N ever M y sel f W i n n i e Gr ey 30 T h ese ar e som e of th e th i n gs I d i d w h en I w as i n Gr eece A n n Ped on e 32 Ru l es to L i ve By M ad el i n e Ew an y sh y n 35 T h r ee Poem s: Col d f eet, Ch i l d h ood m i n n ow s, Ph an tom gu i tar A l i x K l i n gen ber g 36 Q u an tu m L eap N i n a Yavel 38 H i gh w ay 431 Tow ar d s H ead l an d D esi r e A m ei gh 40 Jasm i n e A l ek Ri d et 41 Ru n ! Ch al l en ge i n cl u d i n g D or een D u f f y, Evely n H am p ton , D i an e d e A n d a an d Jad e W r i gh t

Beyond Words I SBN 9783948977672

I nternational Literary M agazine