Beyond Words
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ey o n d W o r d s ? I n t er n at i o n al L i t er ar y M agazi n e
I ssu e 8, N ovem b er 20 20
Ed i t o r : Gal Sl o n i m
Read er s: T i f f i n i e A l v ar ez, I sab el l e Bu r r o u gh s, Jessi ca K ash d an - B r 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 co l l ege gr ad u at e an d n ew En gl i sh t each er Sh e cu r r en t l y
r esi d es i n Sp r i n gf i el d M assach u set t s. H er w o r k h as b een f eat u r ed i n B ey o n d W o r d s
L i t er ar y M agazi n e, Tem p er ed Ru n es L i t er ar y M agazi n e, an d an an t h o l o gy t i t l ed
?St i r r ed b u t N o t Sh aken ? I n h er f r eet i m e sh e l i kes t o p ai n t , scr ap b o o k , an d d o o t h er h o m eb o d y act i v i t i es.
I sab el l e B u r r ou gh s h o l d s a B .A . f r o m t h e U n i ver si t y o f Cam b r i d ge, w h er e sh e st u d i ed
En gl i sh L i t er at u r e W h i l e st u d y i n g, h er p assi o n f o r cr eat i v i t y i n sp i r ed h er t o p r o d u ce
h er ow n l i t er ar y an d ar t s m agazi n e, So u l M i n e Si n ce h er gr ad u at i o n i n 20 19, sh e h as b een l i v i n g w i t h h er f am i l y i n N o r f o l k , an d i s cu r r en t l y w o r k i n g i n cu st o m er ser v i ces.
Jessi ca K ash d an - B r ow n i s a w r i t er , p o et , an d ed i t o r , b ased i n B at h , U K Sh e cu r r en t l y co - r u n s U n l at ch ed Po d cast , sh ar i n g sp o ken w o r d an d o r i gi n al m u si c f r o m o n e h o m e t o
an o t h er d u r i n g t h e p an d em i c, an d h as r ecen t l y l au n ch ed an ex p er i m en t al co l l ab o r at i ve
p o et r y ser i es cal l ed t h e Pr ed i ct i ve Tex t Po et r y Pr o ject Sh e h as h ad h er w o r k p u b l i sh ed i n v ar i o u s m agazi n es an d jo u r n al s, i n cl u d i n g Po p sh o t M agazi n e, K am en a, an d N o t h i n g i n t h e Ru l eb o o k
Jad e W r i gh t i s a cr eat i ve w r i t i n g gr ad u at e w h o? l l r ead ju st ab o u t an y t h i n g an d w r i t es m o st l y p o et r y an d f l ash f i ct i o n W h en sh e i s n o t r ead i n g o r w r i t i n g, sh e sp en d s ever y av ai l ab l e m o m en t w i t h h er d o g, w h o sh e ad o p t ed ear l i er t h i s y ear . H er d ay jo b i s car i n g f o r t i n y h u m an s, an d h er d r eam i s t o p u b l i sh a p i ct u r e b o o k sh e's w r i t t en t o r ead t o t h em ! H er p i ece o f m i cr o - f i ct i o n h as r ecen t l y b een accep t ed f o r p u b l i cat i o n i n A f t er t h e Pau se
Co p y r i gh t © B ey o n d W o r d s Pu b l i sh i n g H o u se, B er l i n , Ger m an y
Fi r st p r i n t i n g, N ovem b er 20 20
I SBN 978- 3- 948977- 67- 2
Oj i ch an
Ch r i st o p h er B er ar d i n o
Yo u ar e t h e f i r st o f y o u r f am i l y t o r et u r n
I t h as b een so m e si x t y - f i ve y ear s si n ce y o u r
f am i l y w as f r ei gh t ed i n t o t h i s b ad l an d
N ei t h er t h ey, n o r t h ei r ch i l d r en , h ave
W i t h a b o r r ow ed car an d b o r r ow ed m o n ey,
y o u f o l l ow t h e I - 10 , st r ai gh t an d sp ar k i n g,
d r i v i n g t h e m an y h o t m i l es f r o m L o s
A n gel es i n t o t h e So n o r an . I t i s a w i l d
co u n t r y, al i en an d d r y, seem i n gl y h em m ed
o n al l si d es by r i d ges f l y sp ecked w i t h scr u b
b r u sh an d i r o n w o o d A gai n st t h e cl o u d l ess
b l u e, gr oves o f sagu ar o s st an d l i ke cr u ci f i ed
t h i eves, t h ei r l o n g sh ad ow s st r et ch i n g d ow n
i n t o gl o o m y ar r oy o s I t i s a p l ace ?w ay t h e
h el l o u t ,? b ey o n d t h e set t l em en t s o f even
t h e m o st f an at i cal d eser t f o l k w h o t ake
p r i d e i n t h ei r su n - b l each ed h o m es an d
su n - b u r n t sk i n I t i s a p l ace b ey o n d t h e l ast
gas st at i o n s an d n eo n - si gn ed m o t el s, i n t o
t h e b l an k p ar t s o f t h e m ap m ar ked o n l y as
?cen su s d esi gn at ed .? Ever y w h er e t h er e i s an
u n sh ak ab l e sen se t h at t h i s b ar r en l an d
car r i es i n i t s b o n es so m e u n seen m al ad y, a
si ck n ess i n cu r ab l e Yo u can n o t h el p b u t f eel
a k i n d o f n u m b i n g t er r o r w h en y o u r eal i ze
i t w as h er e t h ey sen t y o u r f am i l y. T h at i t
w as h er e t h ey n u m b er ed an d f i l ed y o u r k i n
i n t o a m aze o f b ar r ack s T h at i t w as h er e
y o u r p eo p l e l i ved an d p r ay ed an d w ai t ed
b eh i n d b ar b ed w i r e, w h en t h e n at i o n l o st
i t s m i n d . Yo u r eal i ze y o u h ave t r esp assed
i n t o a h au n t ed p l ace.
b o t h er ed t o co m e b ack . ?W h y go ?? y o u r
m o t h er ask s y o u as y o u p ack h er car , ?t h er e
i sn ? t an y t h i n g o u t t h er e b u t gh o st s an d
san d I t ?s b et t er t o keep su ch t h i n gs i n t h e
p ast . Fo r get an d m ove o n .? B u t y o u ?ve n ever
b een o n e t o f o r get an d al w ay s h ave t r o u b l e
m ov i n g o n Yo u ar e a co l l ege gr ad u at e,
y o u n g an d cu r i o u s an d h i gh o n l ef t i st
p o l i t i cs Yo u go b ecau se f o r y o u , t h e cam p s
ex i st as n egat i ve sp ace i n y o u r n ew l y f o r ged
sen se o f sel f . Yo u go b ecau se i t w as al w ay s
t h e t h i n g n o t t al ked ab o u t , l i ke w ar o r
d i vo r ce Yo u go b ecau se y o u ar e sel f i sh
Yo u h ave w ai t ed u n t i l m i d su m m er , w h en
t h e an gr y d ay s o f l at e Ju l y o n l y t h r eat en t o
get an gr i er an d n i gh t s o f f er n o r esp i t e. Yo u
h ave w ai t ed an d d el ay ed b ecau se y o u
w an t ed t o go w h en t h e b r o ad So n o r an w as
at i t s h o t t est , so y o u co u l d f eel w i t h
u n f i l t er ed i n t en si t y w h at y o u r f am i l y f el t al l
t h o se y ear s ago . So m ew h er e al o n g t h o se
h y p n o t i c m i l es d u st ed r ed by d eser t san d ,
t h e n av i gat i o n ap p o n y o u r p h o n e
co m m an d s y o u t o p u l l t o t h e si d e o f a sm al l
p aved r o ad . Yo u ch eck t h e t em p er at u r e o n
t h e d ash , m ak i n g a m en t al n o t e t h at w h at
y o u ar e ab o u t t o f eel i s w h at o n e h u n d r ed
an d t w en t y f eel s l i ke o n t h e b o d y
Yo u ex i t t h e car an d w al k t o t h e
m o n u m en t . I t i s an o d d cem en t f i n ger
o f a t h i n g, l o n el y an d gr ay , st an d i n g
gu ar d ov er a p l o t o f sn ak e h o l es an d
l ow b r u sh T h er e i s n o t m u ch t o d o
ex cep t l o o k at i t . T h er e ar e n o
p am p h l et s l ef t , an d a w h i t e p en i s h as b een sp r ay - p ai n t ed o n t o i t s b ase Yo u
p i ck u p b eer can s an d ch i p b ags an d a
co n d o m w r ap p er t h at h as b l ow n
agai n st a f ad ed p l acar d .
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t h e b ar r ack , p er h ap s t h e l ast o f i t s k i n d .
I t ?s b o ar d s o f p i n e ar e gn ar l ed l i k e
ar t h r i t i c f i n ger s Yo u sq u at o n y o u r
h au n ch es i n t h e r ed san d an d r u b y o u r
t h u m b al o n g t h e h o r i zo n , t r aci n g
i m agi n ar y w al l s o f r azo r - w i r e an d
gu ar d - t ow er s Yo u i m agi n e t h e b l o ck s,
an d t h e so l d i er s, an d t h e gu n s Yo u
i m agi n e t h e b aseb al l f i el d s, an d
gar d en s, an d su i ci d es. Yo u i m agi n e
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b ar r ack f l o o r i n t o t h e co o l ear t h t o
b u i l d a cel l ar , a p i t w h er e h e an d h i s
n i n e si b l i n gs w i l l l i v e an d sl eep f o r a
t h o u san d d ay s
A r t w o r k : Pau l a D eSt ef an i s
Yo u st ay cr o u ch ed i n t h e d u st an d
sw eat u n t i l t h e si l v er cu t o f t h e
C o l o r ad o b l eed s co r al s an d v i o l et s i n t o
t h e sk y A l am b en t p ear l m o o n f l o at s i n
t h e co m i n g d ar k , an d t h e coy o t es i n
t h e f o o t h i l l s y i p l i k e l o st ch i l d r en
Yo u st ay at a ch eap h o t el i n n ear b y
Par k er , a sm al l p ass- t h r o u gh k i n d o f
t ow n . M o st l y f ast f o o d an d gas st at i o n s
an d l i t t l e sh o p s f o r t h e r i v er cr ow d t o
b u y f o am n o o d l es Yo u si t o n t h e ed ge
o f y o u r b ed , t h e r ed d u st p ow d er i n g
t h e car p et an d co m f o r t er . Yo u cal l y o u r gr an d f at h er an d t el l h i m y o u ?v e m ad e
i t , t h at y o u ar e t h e f i r st t o r et u r n H e
ap o l o gi zes i n Jap an ese an d t el l s y o u h i s
m em o r y i s go n e. Yo u h an g u p t h e
p h o n e an d ar e gr at ef u l .
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 t h e l i v i n g r o o m co u ch ,
o f al l p l aces,
an d h av i n g j u st sp o k en w i t h a f r i en d
ab o u t t r i p s f ar an d w i d e,
an d t r i p s f ar i n si d e,
I ?m al ar m ed t o d i scov er m y sel f
i n t h e Su n , b r an ch i n g o u t , f i er y
r h o d o d en d r o n , i n an d o u t o f a
t u n n el , m y t i m e p h asi n g
m y w ay i n t o h i st o r y
I am eer i e w i t h m y sel f ,
el ect r o m agn et i c sel f , m y ey es
scan t h e r o o m as a w al l
o f i m p en et r ab l e n o t - M e, so
m u ch n o t - M e I can n o t
co n t ai n i t !
Fi l l ed w i t h t h e sen se o f
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a sq u at t i m e- cr o ak er , o f
m ar k i n g t h e seaso n s w i t h h an d
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am p h i b i o u s so o t , f r eed
f r o m t h e w o r d s t o d escr i b e
i t i n t i m e?
b u t n o l o n ger f r ee t o r ew i n d :
o n l y car ef u l l y p i eci n g m y
d r i f t w o o d sel f t o get h er agai n ,
l o o k i n g f o r r easo n s
t o cl o se t h e d o o r .
A r t w o r k : Sh u q i G ao
I n t h e af t er n o o n su n ,
I h av e f o u n d t h e w o r l d ?s
f i r st i n st an ce o f u n i n v i t ed
m ed i t at i o n ? I am b egged
b y a w av e o f an an ci en t t r em b l e
t o ev al u at e t h e d i st an ce
f r o m m y sel f t o t h e st ar s?
st agger i n g! I ?m ex p u n ged
w i t h t h e n eed ,
an d t h e t h i r st t o ex p l ai n ,
y et f o r get t i n g m y n am e,
an d t h e st ar s al l t h e sam e?
St i f f b l an k et , I , an d
t h e r o o m b u r st s w i t h l i gh t ,
w h i l e m y b r ai n d o es Fr ed
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p i l l ow ?s t o o t i gh t ,
t h e j o u r n ey t h e m o o n t o o k
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i n m i n u t es, an d m y t i m e- t r av el
p r esen t w o u l d st i l l see m e h er e
A n d I ?m t er r i f i ed , m o st l y ,
t h e ch ar ge i n m y t h i gh s, t h e
t er r i b l e ex p l ai n er w h o se t h o u gh t s
gi v e r i se t o l o cu t i o n s an d
st at i o n s o f cr o sses,
w h i ch m ay b e w h er e I d i e, b u t
u n t i l t h en ,
I w an t t o sp en d
n o m o r e t i m e al o n e
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t h i s d r eam t h an I m u st ,
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Su n scr een A p p l i cat i o n
O m ar K ay al
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a f r eck l e o n y o u r ch eek .
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St i l l , w h en y o u cr y y o u r i n si d e t ear
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W i t h o u t ar m s t o b r i n g y o u i n
W i t h o u t a ch est t o h o l d y o u t i gh t
W i t h o u t a ch eek t o d r y y o u r ey es w i t h ,
as i t r o l l ed d ow n -
t h at t ear
i n si d e
I w o u l d n ? t m i n d h u ggi n g y o u ,
A s y o u r f r eck l e,
f o r t h e t i m e y o u b l i p p ed
acr o ss t h e h o r i zo n
Fo r 'I f I D i d M i n d ' ,
I 'l l l eave t h i s -
f i l l ed t u b e
o f su n scr een ,
t o so ak o n Ear t h ,
i n sw eet U V l i gh t an d sco r ch i n g r egr et .
A r t w o r k : M o t i B azak
Jer em y Sco t t
I n si d e m y b o n es
ar e b eet l es ch o m p i n g
n o i si l y ,
el ast i c n o v el s k eep
r ead i n g t h em sel v es
t o m e,
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t o k n o w t h at I ?m
t h e m o n st er ,
t o n i gh t t h e m o o n
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an d m y ch est
ach es t o t o u ch i t ,
d i f f er en t sh ap es
f l y i n f o r m at i o n
l i k e L u f t w af f e
p at r o l s
t h ey sp i l l t h ei r
secr et s o u t t o
m e i n an ar can e
l an gu age o n l y
f r o gs u n d er st an d .
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ch an ce at r esu r r ect i o n ,
C i t y scr ap es t h e sk y
an d I can f l y
d o w n i n i t s seed ed
u n d er b el l y ,
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A r t w o r k : A n d r ea H o f f
p an t i n g
O u r T i m e i n T am ar i n d o B ay
Pr est o n Eagan
M o m l ed t h e w ay, p ad d l i n g o u t
i n t o Tam ar i n d o B ay H er b r aw n y ar m s
at t ach ed t o a si n gl e p ad d l e cr eat ed a
sh ad ow ah ead o f m y k ay ak . I co u l d
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p r o p el l ed h er sel f o u t al o n g t h e r o ck s
Sh e sl ow ed d ow n t o p o i n t o u t a sch o o l
o f d o l p h i n s T h er e w er e f o u r o f t h em ,
ju st b en eat h t h e su r f ace, an d o n e o f
t h ei r f i n s an d t h en t h ei r h ead b r o ke
t h e su r f ace o f t h e w at er , t o t ake a
b r eat h T h e t r i p m ar ked t h e m o st
h al cy o n t i m e o f m y l i f e T h er e w er e
n o d eat h s, n o t r i al s, an d n o u n h eal t h y
o b sessi o n s i n si gh t . T h i s w as a r at h er
p eacef u l t i m e i n m y m o t h er ?s l i f e as
w el l I h ad n ? t seen h er t h i s
u n p o ssessed i n al l m y l i f e
Sh e t u r n ed t h e k ay ak o u t t o t h e
l ef t aw ay f r o m t h e r o ck s, h ead i n g
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an d l o o k i n g b ack t o t h e sk y.
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b u t r ar el y w as sh e i n t h e m o o d .Fo r
so m e r easo n , m ay b e t h e l i gh t , m ay b e t h e o cean , m ay b e t h e t i m e,
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an d ey es h ad ap p ear ed .I n o t i ced
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t h at h ad el u d ed h er - h er en t i r e
l i f e. A s m y m o t h er al l ow ed t h e
gr ey n ess an d w r i n k l es t o co m e
n at u r al l y , I f el l m o r e i n l ov e w i t h
h er t o o U n f o r t u n at el y , w h at I
d i d n ? t r eco gn i ze at t h e t i m e, i s t h at
t h at w h i l e w e w er e o n o u r k ay ak s
t o get h er i n C o st a Ri ca, so m e k i n d
o f t r an si t i o n o f d i so r d er o ccu r r ed
H er b o d y d y sm o r p h i a an d
ad d i ct i o n d i f f u sed i n t o m e I t h as
t o go so m ew h er e d o esn ? t i t ? B u t
y ear s l at er , sh e?d sav e m e as I
t h r ash ed t o st ay af l o at , h er l i gh t
w o u l d gu i d e m e h o m e
B r eak i n g t h e r h y t h m o f t h e
t i d e, m y m o t h er sai d , ?I t h i n k I
k n ow w h en I ?m go i n g t o d i e ?
I w as u n m ov ed b y t h i s M y
n er v es f r o m b ei n g o u t i n t h e
o cean , w i t h o u t a l i f e j ack et ,
d i st r act ed m e f r o m t h e w ei gh t o f
h er p r em o n i t i o n
?I t ?s go i n g t o b e so o n er t h an
I l i k e,? sh e sai d , p u t t i n g h er k n ees
d ow n , as sh e f l o at ed f u r t h er o u t t o
sea
?H ow w i l l y o u d i e?? I ask ed , as I ch eck ed f o r st o r m s o n t h e
h o r i zo n .
?I d o n ? t k n ow , b u t i t ? l l b e
p ai n l ess ?
Su d d en l y I f el t saf e,
ad j u st i n g t o t h e t er r ai n . I l ai d
d ow n as M o m d i d an d sh u t m y
ey es
A r t w o r k : L aw r en ce B r i d ges
M o t h M o u t h
C al l u m Fo u l d s
I sh ar e m y r o o m w i t h m o t h s, cr aw l i n g ov er
T h e cu r t ai n s, l ear n i n g t o b eco m e t h e w al l .
T h er e?s o n l y co u gh i n g, f l u t t er i n g t h ei r p al e
H an d s, i n f i n i t e d u st , b u t p o ssess n o d u st er .
Sen t i m en t al f r eck l es l i k e a j agu ar
C r aw l i n g u p i n t o m y h ead t o em b al m
M y ey es w h er e t w o b r ai l f aces si t an d st ar e
T h r o u gh a m i l l i o n n eed l e p o i n t ed v i si o n
I l ov e m y m o t h ; I w o u l d n ? t b e m e w i t h o u t
T h em . H ow t h 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 t h ei r sk i n i n t h e ey e o f a sco u t .
A y o u n g b l ack b er r y f ace w h eed l es t h r o u gh o u t
M y l i f e an d v an i sh es l i k e a su d d en
Sh o ck , sen d i n g m en i n t o f r ai l t y an d d o u b t
A r t w o r k : H en r y L Jo n es
M y B o o k i s E at en b y T er m i t es
C h r i st o p h er T . G eo r ge
T h ey ?v e d ev o u r ed t h e w o r d s
I sw eat ed o v er ; w h o o p s, t h er e go es
an o t h er m et ap h o r
t o t h e l i t t l e w h i t e b u gger s
i n o u r st o r age, t eem i n g i n
a car d b o ar d b ox o f m y b o o k s:
a b o o k Pi casso ed b y t er m i t es, t i t l e
an d co v er i l l u st r at i o n , B l ak e's Ancient of D ays
go n e l i k e v acan ci es i n sp eech ,
m y au t h o r sh i p zap p ed
i n t o t h e et h er , as i f m y w o r d s an d n am e n ev er ex i st ed
T h ey ?v e ev en ch o m p ed t h e sp aces
B et w een t h e w o r d s- - st o l en m y v er y b r eat h ;
a r ed r o ach b i g as m y t h u m b scu t t l es b y ;
I q u i t t h e h eav i n g h i v e, em ai l p r o p er t y m an agem en t , p l an a co u n t er o f f en si v e.
A r t w o r k : Pau l a D eSt ef an i s
Ry an W est m o r el an d 2 12 - 3 0 7- 53 3 1
T h i s p h o n e n u m b er d o esn ? t b el o n g t o u s an y m o r e
A n d n ei t h er d o m y p ar en t s
T h ey ar e car d b o ar d cu t - o u t f u n n y car i cat u r es
T h at I t h i n k I m ad e u p i n m y h ead
b o r n at t w en t y - t w o
H al f f o r m ed an d
W h at I w o u l d b eg, b ar t er an d b l o o d l et
Ju st t o b e t u cked i n at n i gh t o n e m o r e t i m e
I d o n o t m i ss b ei n g a ch i l d
I m i ss b ei n g l oved l i ke o n e
I m i ss b ei n g so m eo n e?s ch i l d
I am t o o o l d t o b e an o r p h an
So I w i l l l i ve l i ke t h e r est o f u s
W i t h a p ai n so m o u n t ai n o u s
I t co u l d t ake m e o u t w i t h a f ew w o r d s sai d i n m al i ce
T h e r i gh t w o r d s t o p l u ck m y f eat h er s, cu t m e o p en , an d gu t m e
Fo r t o n i gh t ?s m eal .
A r t w o r k : K ay l ee Av i l a
A w ak en i n g
C h r i st a L u b at k i n
em p at h y
p u sh ed
t o t h e b ack
o f t h e cl o set
w o r d s o f co u r age
l ay
b al l ed u p
o n t h e f l o o r
n o b l e d r eam s
l ef t
asl eep
o n t h e p i l l ow
w ak e u p
w ak e u p
ex t en d
t h e h an d o f j u st i ce
t o al l h u m an
h u es an d t i n t s
m ar ch sh o u l d er t o sh o u l d er
w i t h h ar m o n y an d d i ssen t
i n a j u b i l an t j u m b l e
o f co l o r
A r t w o r k : Jo el l e C at h l een
I n A p r i l
Em i l y M M Ro ger s
I h ave a b ad h ab i t o f h i gh h o p es
an d I ?m a v i ct i m o f w h at I o n ce l oved .
D i d y o u see t h e f o r ecast l ast n i gh t ?
T u esd ay cal l s f o r an i d en t i t y cr i si s
an d an ep i so d e o f sever e sel f - aw ar en ess.
B r i n g an u m b r el l a
I u sed t o b e af r ai d o f D r Seu ss i l l u st r at i o n s
an d t u r n i n g t w en t y - t h r ee,
b u t n ow I ?m t er r i f i ed o f o p en w at er
an d Cosmopolitan m agazi n es?
i t ?s so easy t o l o se y o u r sel f t h ese d ay s.
I h ear d W ed n esd ay w i l l b e p ar t l y cl o u d y
w i t h a w ave o f ap at h y
an d a w ar m f r o n t . W ear l ay er s,
o r p er h ap s co n si d er a l i gh t jacket ?
i t ?s b et t er t o b e saf e t h an so r r y
I t h o u gh t I saw y o u
at t h e cr o ss- w al k y est er d ay
so I w aved I w at ch ed
t h e n u m b er s co u n t d ow n ,
cau t i o n i n g t h e b eau t i f u l p eo p l e
t o m ove, t o get o u t o f t h e w ay
b ef o r e i t w as t o o l at e,
b u t t h e w ar n i n g w as i n ver t ed
I st u d i ed m y r ef l ect i o n
I t st ar t ed t o r ai n
A r t w o r k : Pau l a D eSt ef an i s
I
Sco t t Sei b el
W h en I eat a san d w i ch ,
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 o t h er o n e I
d ef i n i t el y n eed i t r i gh t ab o u t n ow.
A n y w ay I 'm i n Sco t l an d f o r t h i s
w o r k co n f er en ce, r i gh t ? So I 'm
w al k i n g f r o m t h e h o t el t o t h e
co n ven t i o n cen t er A n d as I ?m
w al k i n g, I see t h ese t w o r aven s i n
t h e m i d d l e o f t h e si d ew al k . O n e's
d ead A n d t h e o t h er o n e's t h i s o l d ,
r agged y, f at b i r d , sh e's t r y i n g t o
m ove t h e d ead b i r d 's co r p se o f f
t h e si d ew al k t o t h i s b i t o f gr ass I
go t o t r y an d h el p h er o u t , r i gh t ?
B ad i d ea. Sh e st ar t s w ai l i n g h er
h ead o f f T h e m o st aggr essi ve,
h o r r i b l e k i n d o f n o i se I h ave ever
h ear d any an i m al m ake. I b ack t h e
f u ck o f f , an d sh e l o o k s at m e l i ke come over here and try that again.
See what happens. Jesu s. L at er I 'm
co m i n g b ack f r o m t h e
co n f er en ce, an d t h e b o d y 's l y i n g
i n t h e p at ch o f gr ass. T h e o t h er
r aven 's st i l l t h er e t o o . A n d sh e
l o o k s at m e agai n , al m o st l i ke
sh e?s so r r y f o r ear l i er
Ever seen f o o t age o f w h en JFK
w as sh o t ? Yo u k n ow h ow i t l o o k s
l i ke Jack i e's t r y i n g t o cl i m b o u t
t h e b ack o f t h e car ? Ever y o n e
t h i n k s sh e?s t r y i n g t o r u n Bu t D ad
h ad t h i s t h eo r y I gu ess I ? l l n ever
k n ow h ow h e cam e u p w i t h t h i s,
n ow W h at h e sai d w as t h at Jack i e
w as t r y i n g t o get al l t h e p ar t s o f
JFK ?s h ead t h at ?s b l ow n acr o ss t h e
b ack o f t h e car , al l t h e b r ai n s an d
sk u l l , so t h at w h en t h ey get t o a
h o sp i t al , t h ey can p u t h i m b ack
t o get h er D ad sai d t h at i f sh e w as
r eal l y t r y i n g t o r u n , sh e w o u l d
h ave ju st ju m p ed o u t t h e si d e.
I m agi n e t h at I m agi n e seei n g t h e
p er so n y o u l ove m o st ?s f ace b ei n g
b l ast ed o f f , r i gh t n ex t t o y o u , an d
y o u r f i r st r eact i o n i s t o get al l t h e
p i eces o f h i s h ead , just in case
t h er e?s so m e m i r acl e o p er at i o n
t h at can p u t h i m b ack t o get h er
Yo u O K ? T h at ?s a b i g h i t T h at ?s a
b i g ass h i t . W h er e t h e f u ck ar e
y o u t r y i n g t o go ? Yo u ? r e a f o o l ,
y o u k n ow t h at ? Gi m m e t h e
l i gh t er . Go d r i n k so m e w at er
b ef o r e y o u en d u p d ead t o o
Ch ar l o t t e D er r i ck
I w o u l d h ave n am ed y o u Ch r i st i an .
Ch r i st i an M cCl el l an d T h at w as a n i ce
n am e I k n ow y o u r gr an n y w o u l d h ave
ap p r oved . Bu t I ? l l ad m i t , I t oy ed w i t h
o t h er n am es, d af t t i t l es l i ke N i gel an d
A l b er t Yo u w o u l d h ave r esen t ed m e at
f i r st , gi v i n g y o u an el d er l y m an ?s n am e at
o n e d ay o l d , b u t y o u w o u l d h ave f o u n d
t h e h u m o u r i n i t w h en y o u w er e o l d er
?N i gel ? W h o l o o k s at a b aby an d
t h i n k s h e?s a N i gel ?? y o u ?d h ave l au gh ed ,
an d I w o u l d h ave l au gh ed w i t h y o u To
gi ve m e cr ed i t , i t w as b et t er t h an
an y t h i n g t h o n f at h er o f y o u r s w o u l d
h ave go n e f o r N ow t h at w o u l d h ave b een
d af t . I m agi n e a w ee A n w ar n ach o r
T h u r l ow M cCl el l an d r u n n i n g ar o u n d t h e
Fal l s I w asn ? t h av i n g an y o f t h at
Yo u r ar r i v al w asn ? t l i ke I h ad
i m agi n ed I t w as d i f f er en t Yo u w er e
d i f f er en t
I su p p o se I p i cked i t u p f r o m f i l m s
I h ad w at ch ed an d b o o k s I h ad r ead I
h ad y o u r gr an n y o n o n e si d e o f m e, y o u r
f at h er o n t h e o t h er T h ey h el d o n e o f m y
h an d s i n each o f t h ei r s, t el l i n g m e t o p u sh , keep p u sh i n g, I ?m al m o st t h er e, as
t h e p ai n , t h e p ai n o f t h e w h o l e w o r l d an d
m o r e sw el l ed i n si d e o f m e, p r essed
t h r o u gh m e, t r y i n g t o get o u t , w h i l e I
scr eam ed f o r y o u , f o r y o u r vo i ce, f o r
y o u r l i t t l e b o d y t o h o l d agai n st m i n e
A n d y o u m et m y scr eam s w i t h y o u r ow n , a scr eam f o r ai r , f o r m e
I h ad t h e n u r ses w ash y o u w i t h
h an d s as gen t l e as h u m m i n gb i r d s an d
w r ap y o u i n a sh aw l t o h an d t o m e M y
Ch r i st i an , m y A l b er t , m y N i gel Fi n al l y, I
w as r ead y t o m eet y o u . I ?d n ever b een
m o r e r ead y f o r an y t h i n g i n m y l i f e
Bu t y o u d i d n ? t ar r i ve i n a h o sp i t al
Yo u cam e o n B ox i n g D ay i n y o u r
gr an n y ?s h o u se W e w er e at t h e d i n i n g
t ab l e, y o u r gr an n y, y o u r gr an d a, y o u r
au n t , an d m e, p l ay i n g gam es an d
d r i n k i n g t o o m u ch p r o secco , sp ar k l i n g
w at er f o r m e
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 t o l d m e i t w as n o r m al I t
w as m y b o d y ?s w ay o f acco m m o d at i n g
y o u i n t h o se ear l y m o n t h s, t o keep y o u saf e an d al l ow y o u r o o m t o gr ow i n t h e
f i r st h o m e y o u w o u l d ever k n ow, b u t t h e
m o r e m y st o m ach co n t r act ed , I k n ew m y
b o d y co u l d n o l o n ger keep y o u
I r u sh ed t o t h e b at h r o o m an d
l o cked t h e d o o r Yo u r gr an n y cal l ed u p
t h e st ai r s, ?A r e y o u al r i gh t , l ove?? as I
cl am b er ed i n t o t h e b at h , m y jean s
ar o u n d m y an k l es, an d b i t a f r esh w h i t e t ow el b et w een m y t eet h
N o h an d s, n o ey es, n o l egs ? y o u
w er e a cl u st er o f b l o o d y cl o t s sp r ead o u t o n t h e p o r cel ai n f l o o r
M y Ch r i st i an , m y A l b er t , m y N i gel .
N o t a h an d o r an ey e o r a l eg t o y o u r
n am e
I sco o p ed y o u f r o m t h e b o t t o m o f t h e
b at h an d h el d y o u cl o se an d w ep t
E cd y si s
El l en D i am o n d
I r ead t h at r ep t i l es cl ean t h ei r h o u se
b ef o r e at t em p t i n g cer t ai n t ask s,
l i k e sh ear i n g o f f l ast seaso n ?s sk i n
I n co m p l i an ce w i t h r ep t i l i an
RN A , I sco o p st r ay t i ssu es,
ch an ge o u t sh eet s an d p i l l o w cases, cl i m b t o w i p e t h e k i t ch en cl o ck
an d f i n i sh w ash i n g w i n d o w si l l s
b ef o r e I sh ed t h e sad n ess o f
l ast su m m er ?s u n co m p l et ed l o v e
an d t o ss t h e u n r ead w i sd o m s
i n t h o se o l d N ew Yo r k er m agazi n es.
A r t w o r k : Si m a Sch l o ss
N ev er M y sel f
W i n n i e Gr ey
t h e o n l y p er so n i am f i t t o b e
i s d i si l l u si o n ed d i sen ch an t ed d i sen f r an ch i sed
m ay b e- so r t a- p r et t y gi r l
y o u see d r i f t i n g t h r o u gh a n am el ess ai r p o r t
at t w o i n t h e m o r n i n g:
h ead p h o n 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 eb r ow s f u r r ow ed .
i w as n ever m ean t t o b e an y t h i n g m o r e
t h an a car i cat u r e o f m y ow n i d eal i st i c cr eat i o n ;
o n l y ever t h e i m age o f a t h i n g,
n ever t h e t h i n g i t sel f A r t w o r k : D eep t i B i st a
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 G r eece
A n n Ped o n e
t h e sea i s t h i ck an d a d ar k er sh ad e o f b l u e
t h an t h e o t h er p h o t o s an d
y es, I can see t h e m o o n r i gh t t h er e; gi v e m e y o u r h an d
I ?m go i n g t o m o v e i t u p i n si d e m y sk i r t a b i t
I ?v e b een t o t h at b each w as t h er e w h en I w as f i r st m ar r i ed
I ?m u n cr o ssi n g m y l egs n o w
I r em em b er t h er e w er e o y st er s l em o n s b o i l ed
co r n gr een an d b l ack o l i v es l o n g gr easy
an ch o v i es; t h e sal t o n t h e t ab l e w as h eav y i t st u ck t o m y t o n gu e
l et m e p u l l m y sk i r t u p m o r e l i k e t h i s t h en y o u can see i t b et t er
I d r an k t o o m u ch at d i n n er o n e n i gh t ; I w o k e u p w i t h a m an
o n t o p o f m e; w e m u st h av e b een n ear t h e sea
t h e w at er l o o k ed
sw o l l en i n t h e n i gh t ; I r em em b er sn at ch es o f f l esh , b l u e an d p i n k
an d t h en h e
p r o m i sed m e so m et h i n g; d o n ? t t o u ch i t , n o t y et
I w an t t o b e ab l e t o w at ch y o u w h en y o u d o i t
t h e m an , t h e m an o n t h e b each h e
w asn ? t m y h u sb an d
I h el d an o y st er i n m y h an d t i n y an d p al e gr ay i t w as w ar m
i t f el t l i k e a n ew egg; I ?m go i n g t o l i e d o w n n o w so i t i s r i gh t
i n f r o n t o f y o u r f ace; I saw t w o gr een f i sh sw i m m i n g i n a p o n d
u p f r o m t h e sh o r e; t h ey w er e sw i m m i n g
sw i m m i n g i n co n
cen t r i c ci r cl es; y o u can co m e i n t o m e n o w
d o y o u see h o w I h av e sp r ead
m y l egs; t h e f i sh w er e sw i m m i n g t h ei r m o u t h s
o p en i n g an d o p en
i n g; I d i d n ? t k n o w h o w t o r esp o n d ; d o n ? t
h o l d y o u r sel f b ack ; y es, gr ab m y sh o u l d er s
t h er e i s a t h eo r y i n sem i o t i cs t h at i f y o u
t h i n k ab o u t a w o r d ; l i k e ecst asy ; i f y o u t h i n k ab o u t i t h ar d
en o u gh t h en so m e
t i m es t h e w o r d b eco m es t h e
t h i n g t h at i t si gn i f i es; l et m e t o u ch i t w h i l e y o u ? r e d o i n g i t ; d o y o u
see; t h i s i s h o w y o u l ear n t o l o v e so m eo n e
w h en w e cam e b ack f r o m t h at t r i p
I h ad a l o t o f p i ct u r es w i t h m e; p i ct u r es I h ad t ak en w i t h
a sm al l cam er a; i t w as a Pen t ax ; i t h ad a l o n g b l ack
st r ap b u t I n ev er b o u gh t a f l ash f o r i t ; I t o o k a l o t o f
p i ct u r es o n t h at t r i p ; b u t t h ey w er en ? t l i k e y o u r s
n o n e o f t h em w er e o f t h e m o o n .
R u l es t o L i v e B y
M ad el i n e Ew an y sh y n
she?s eight years old-
borderline?
a girl her age
just a picky eater, who will forget
m y t i m e
i n t h e h o sp i t al i s
t h e sh ad o w o f
a cr o u ch i n g ch i l d
I co n su m ed o n l y
o t h er p eo p l e?s st o r i es,
l i k e t h e o n es ab o u t
t h e t w el v e l i t t l e gi r l s
i n t w o st r ai gh t l i n es,
t h e sm al l est o n e w as
she?s a peculiar, particular girl
w h o t o l d h er sel f : p l ease
d o n ? t eat an y t h i n g
t h at o n ce l i v ed ,
f o r f ear o f i t cr eep i n g
o u t y o u r t h r o at , scr eam i n g
p l ease
d o n ? t p u t
an y t h i n g i n y o u r st o m ach
t h at d o esn ? t f i t
o n t h o se t i m i d , t i n y
sal ad p l at es.
should speak when spoken to, and always follow the rules:
N ap k i n s
ar e a gi r l ?s b est f r i en d
Sl i p t h e l et t u ce
b et w een y o u r t eet h ,
b u t b ew ar e o f
t h e r i ce an d p o t at o es
Si m p l y t u ck aw ay
w h at y o u r at h er
w as n o t t h er e
D i sap p ear i n g
i s so m et h i n g
y o u can l ear n .
when she gains back the weight - she will let go of her disease
p assed o n
f r o m m y m o t h er , an d h er m o t h er
t o o , an d t h e w o m en
b ef o r e t h em
w h o k n ew
t h at t o st ar v e
i s t o w i n t h e gam e
A l i x K l i n gen b er g t h r ee p o em s
C o l d f eet
I ach e f o r m o o n b eam s
an d i n d i go - f l avo r ed gl aci er s.
I am d r aw n t o t h e d ar k n ess
L i ke st ar s w i t h co l d l i t t l e f eet .
C h i l d h o o d m i n n ow s
I st ep i n t o t h e r i ver o f t i m e
an d f eel t h e y ear s sw i m p ast m y an k l es,
ch i l d h o o d m i n n ow s an d eel s o f ad u l t h o o d
I l ay d ow n o n m y b ack an d l et t h e eo n s
t ake m e b ack t o t h e b egi n n i n g, t o y o u
Ph an t o m gu i t ar
T h e st r i n g o n m y gu i t ar b u zz al m o st i n au d i b l y
W h en t r u ck s r o l l by o u t si d e m y w i n d ow,
L i t t l e q u akes i n t h e f o u n d at i o n
A h u m m i n g i n m y b el l y.
I m i ss t h e f l ow o f m agi c t h at o p en ed
l i ke a b r i d ge o f l i gh t w h en ever I h ear d y o u r vo i ce,
T h e jo l t o f p u r e u n ad u l t er at ed joy
I f el t at seei n g y o u r f ace
Yo u ar e a b u zzi n g i n m y so u l ,
Co sm i c gu i t ar st r i n gs st i l l h u m m i n g
W i t h p h an t o m m em o r i es o f y o u r so f t st r u m .
Q
u an t u m L eap
T h e w o m an I l ove
D r aw s t r ees,
D r aw s t h ei r l i m b s,
Sket ch es t h ei r t h i gh s, b r east s,
Ci r cl es t h ei r b o d i es
Sh e d r aw s t h em i n h er si l en ce,
W i t h t h e k i ss o f h er p en
Gr acef u l l y an d gen t l y,
T r aces t h e m u scl es,
T h ei r l o n g n eck s,
T h e w o m an I l ove
D r aw s t r ees,
D r aw s m e i n t o l i f e,
Ci r cl es m y h ear t ,
L oves m e i n t o t h 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 t er ,
Sh e cr eat es m e.
Sh e t r aces m y b o d y :
M y l i m b s
M y t h i gh s
Ci r cl es m y b r east s
T h e w o m an I l ove
D r aw s t r ees.
D r aw s t h e h o l l ow,
B u d s
St em s o f aw aken i n g
N i n a Yavel A r t w o r k : D y l an A l b er t so n
H i gh w ay 4 31 T o w ar d s H ead l an d
I co u n t f o u r f u n er al h o m es b et w een m y f r o n t d o o r
an d t h e co f f ee sh o p i n D ow n t ow n D o t h an w h er e
t h e co l d b r ew t ast es l i ke Au st i n , Tex as an d t h e
r ed vel vet w h o o p ee p i es ar e p er f ect l y st al e w i t h
sw eet
b u t t er cr eam cen t er s t h at m ake cav i t i es seem
l i ke ju st a r o u t i n e si d e- ef f ect o f su m m er t i m e sad n ess.
O r m ay b e i t ?s PM S t h at m akes t h ese gu m s p u l se,
t i gh t en l i ke Vel cr o ar m cu f f s ar o u n d t h e r o o t s t o t ake
b l o o d p r essu r e f r o m b o d y p ar t s so o f t en f o r go t t en
as su n ken sh i p s i n sl ow - t r af f i c can al s m ad e o f w at er
t o o b r ow n an d gr een an d am o eb a- h eav y t o d r i n k
W h en I w as r ead y t o l eave t h e ci t y, I f i n al l y r en t ed a
k ay ak an d f l o at ed an d p ad d l ed m y w ay t o t h e m i d d l e
o f L ad y B i r d L ake, w h er e t h e ed ges ar e t h e
b an k s o f t h e b at ci t y r eser vo i r , so t h i ck w i t h
p o l l u t an t s p o u r ed over f r o m a p o l i t i cal en i gm a? b l u e
b et w een r ed an d r ed an d r ed - l i gh t s sw i n gi n g t h e w ay
r ed - l i gh t s d o i n o t h er p l aces? l i ke Fl o r i d a an d A l ab am a
an d Co l o r ad o M y r o o m m at e t h er e w as f r o m Bu l gar i a, an d sh e h ad n ever seen t h e i n si d e o f a d r i ve- t h r u car w ash
o r t h e A t l an t i c O cean . I ?ve l i ved i n so m e ci t i es agai n an d agai n , as i f r et u r n i n g w o u l d al w ay s b e an o p t i o n , n o t ju st a l u x u r y et ch ed i n t o t ast e b u d s t h at ch an ge ever y seven y ear s? I w o n d er h ow l o n g each n o se h ai r
st ay s, an d w h er e t h ey al l go , o r w h y t h ey ar e n o t w i sh f u l
as ey el ash es st i ck y o n sap p y ch eek sk i n I n t h e Jew i sh
cem et er y ab ove t h e cr acked b r i ck w al l , t h er e?s a d ead B l u e Jay,
a f east f o r gn at s an d f i r e an t s b o r ed by t h e t ex t u r e o f
h ead st o n es over gr ow n w i t h v i n es n ear o n e o f t h e h ead s o f t h e Yo h o l o M i cco h i k i n g t r ai l .
D esi r e A m ei gh A r t w o r k : A n gel a V Scar d i gn o
A l ek Ri d et Jasm i n e
Jasm i n e w as a w o m an
Sh e w o r e f l o w er s as h er scen t
Jasm i n e w as a d el i gh t
Sh e h ad b l ack ey es
A n d d ar k h ai r
D ar k er t h an t h e n i gh t
I saw i t o n ce
A n d sh al l b e l ast
B esi d e o n e m an t h at st o l e
Jasm i n e o u t o f m y si gh t
Run!
The following four pieces are the winners of our running-themed 250-word creative writing challenge!
D o r een D u f f y
I w at ch y o u r u n ,
t h e l en gt h o f y o u r l i f e
each y ear a b o ar d
i n a b l each ed
w o o d en d o ck
m y l egs st r et ch
i n t o r i p p l i n g w at er s
f eet si n k sl ow l y
t o st ead y m y sel f
i n an u n d er cu r r en t
t r y i n g t o p u l l m e i n
ab ov e m y n eck
I w at ch y o u r b ar e f eet ,
sk i p p i n g ov er
f r ay ed r o p es, t o r n ,
b y t h e k n o t i n m y t h r o at ,
So l es so ar p r ecar i o u sl y
acr o ss l o o se b o ar d s
I ?m t er r i f i ed t o w at ch
A n an ch o r l ess b o at
car r i es m y w o r d s i n w av es
I w o n ? t b e ab l e t o st o p ,
b l u e, w i t h p eel i n g p ai n t , i t d r i f t s o u t o f r each
o f m y h ear t
a j u t t i n g r o ck
I w at ch y o u r u n
t h e l en gt h o f y o u r l i f e
each d ay a b o ar d
i n a b l each ed
w o o d en d o ck
A r t w o r k : Sab r i n a Jov i c
Evel y n H
d u sk su r r en d er ed i t s l i gh t
as t h e st o r m su b si d ed
t en y ear s o l d
l at e f o r a b i r t h d ay p ar t y
I b egan r u n n i n g i n t h e d ar k
t ow ar d t h e h o u se
d ow n o u r l o n g co u n t r y r o ad
st r eet l i gh t s n o n - ex i st en t
m o o n l i gh t o b scu r ed
i n sect s si n gi n g i n m y ear s
l egs p u m p i n g i n b l i n d r ep et i t i o n
f l ai l i n g i n t o a sea o f n i gh t
h an d s an d f eet n o l o n ger v i si b l e
I en t er ed a st r an ge d i m en si o n
o f co m p l et e n o t h i n gn ess
l i ke r u n n i n g o n a co sm i c t r ead m i l l
p er h ap s p ow er i n g et er n i t y
af r ai d t o st o p an d b e f o r ever l o st
sw al l ow ed u p by t h e b l ack n ess
en vel o p ed i n even i n g?s eb o n y sh r o u d
si gh t l ess o n t h at Sep t em b er eve
co m f o r t ed o n l y by sn eaker s h i t t i n g so l i d gr o u n d
t o t h e b eat o f m y p o u n d i n g h ear t f i n al l y
a si n gl e gl ow em er ged
gr ow i n g cl o ser w i t h each st r i d e
p o r ch l i gh t i n t h e d i st an ce i l l u m i n at i n g escap e
t h at o l d jo u r n ey r ecal l ed
w h en o n ce agai n
f o r ces o f d ar k n ess en gu l f ed m e
an d y o u b ecam e t h e su n
A r t w o r k : Ch r i st o p h er W o o d s
Ru n - Gr een W or l d
D i an e d e A n d a
I r u n t o y o u , w ar m - ar m ed , n ear ,
t h r o u gh t h e sw ay - b o b o f t h e y el l o w n o sed d ai si es;
T o y o u b en d i n g o v er m e b en eat h
t h e t r ee t h at w i n d - t o u ch es t h e st r eam ;
T o y o u i n t h e l ad y - b u l b ed d ev i l gr ass
t h at w i n d - q u i v er s d ew acr o ss m y l egs, r u n n i n g
T o y o u su n - ch i sl ed i n t o t h e b l u e sh ad o w
o f t h r ee o'cl o ck , t o t h e go l d r o u n d cu r v e o f y o u r ar m .
B u t i f y o u sh o u l d cal l t o m e
acr o ss t h e cl u t t er ed gar age
o r t h e r u t t ed co n cr et e r o ad ,
t h r o u gh t h e b r i t t l e b l i n k i n g o f t h e n eo n n i gh t
o r agai n st t h e w i n d - l ash o f t h e ch af ed gr o u n d
I w i l l r u n t o y o u t h r o u gh t h e gr een w o r l d o f l o v e's ey e.
A r t w o r k : M i ch el l e Sp i zi r i
Peb b l es
Jad e W r i gh t T
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: TheForbiddenFruit 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, Departure2016;DaysinBlue;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, ReturningtoSource;TransmutingReality . 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, FutureTense . 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, BlueLagoon . 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, TogetherweRise.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, SilencedSong . 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, StainedI;TheCrowKnows;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, TactileandTasty . 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, SilenceII . Dipti (@the_birdy_arts) is a dreamer who is just dreaming.
Van Lanigh, Theairnearmyfingers. 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, MaterialGirl . 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, TheRiver . 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, AnÌbal CedrÛn, 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, TheUpsideDown . 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.
0 1 O ji ch an Ch r i st o p h er B er ar d i n o
0 4 T r an sm o gr i f i cat i o n o n t h e Co u ch Sam u el Jen n i n gs
0 8 Su n scr een A p p l i cat i o n O m ar K ay al
0 9 N i gh t m ar es Jer em y Sco t t
10 O u r T i m e i n Tam ar i n d o B ay Pr est o n Eagan
12 M o t h M o u t h Cal l u m Fo u l d s
15 M y B o o k i s Eat en by Ter m i t es Ch r i st o p h er T Geo r ge
16 212- 30 7- 5331 Ry an W est m o r el an d
18 Aw aken i n g Ch r i st a L u b at k i n
20 I n A p r i l Em i l y M M Ro ger s
22 Gr ab b i n g a B i t e Sco t t Sei b el
23 T h r ee D ay s B ef o r e t h 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 o t
26 Ecd y si s El l en D i am o n d
28 N ever M y sel f W i n n i e Gr ey
30 T h ese ar e so m e o f t h e t h i n gs I
Beyond Words
