sprovence
-
V. Premkumar, at therapy intake/amid
Vidya Premkumar at therapy intake she fills in a form asking where it hurtsshe writes ‘here’and points to the spacein between lines amid the long sentencesof migration a short pause on the wirewith wings folded Vidya Premkumar is a poet and educator known for her three poetry collections: Musing while Living, Living in an Indian…
-
K. McDonald, Fort Story True Story
Kindra McDonald Fort Story True Story Content Warning: This piece references PTSD and military related sounds and language. Day after Veteran’s Day in this time capsule of a place, if not for the land the Army bought across a divided highway, a sanctuary that would have been miles, a maritime forest stretching all the way…
-
J. H. Dracos-Tice, Back-to-School Pep Rally
Jennifer Hyde Dracos-Tice Back-to-School Pep Rally Musical chairs—pep rally fun—sounds mellifluous but is sonasty. One origin was a German game—“Trip to Jerusalem”— not enoughroom on boats for Jews trying to emigrate. 800 students and faculty watch the competition on the gym floor build as chairs disappear, kids fight to fittwo sets of hips betweenseat arms,…
-
K. Lawson, making the call
Kirk Lawson making the call my dad needs a yearto overcome his angerson’s gay confessionI ask my husbandbefore his dad’s visitto share your storyyou complyyour dad’s simple questionare you happy? why not be the man on the moon always smiling Kirk Lawson lives in Ulster County, New York, and the Shawangunk Mountains. He enjoys poetry…
-
J. Kolber, Bear Claw Break Point
Justin Kolber Bear Claw Break Point Content warning: This article discusses eating disorders, binge eating, and body image in detail. Don’t do it, Justin. But I need it. I was sitting in the parking lot of Dunkin’ Donuts in my rusted Toyota Camry filled with fast-food takeout containers, debating my order. I was an OB—original…
-
A.C. Cambers, What the Birds Know
A.C. Cambers What the Birds Know Flamboyant birds flitthrough trees, singing sweet harmonies as I search for my scarf lost last December, when I used it as a blanket for an injured squirrel, who vanished with it before wildlife rescue arrived. If the birds know anything, they don’t say, only tease—Seek. Seek. A.C. Cambers is…
-
R. D. Martin, Limn the Place
Rebecca D. Martin Limn the Place I’d like to think we all go to the coffee shop alone sometimes. I’ve done movies by myself, including every Wednesday of Spring 2002 after that baffling three-hour Victorian Poetry graduate seminar. Memento and Count of Monte Cristo from the center of the back row, returning to myself. Some…
-
J. Butlett, Boyfriend
Jacob Butlett Boyfriend a palimpsest based on Karin Gottshall’s “More Lies”Somedays I say I’m going to hang out with my boyfriend—even though I have no boyfriend—simply because the truthis too hard to bear. I’ve always felt lonely, ever sinceI was a kid, closeted, in remedial reading classes, unable to grasp the simplest books. Today, I…
-
C. Greenfield, Black Doves & Fairy Wrens
Carole Greenfield Black Doves & Fairy Wrens My fragile student leaves her glasses at home so as not to have to see the world in too clear focus, tells me when she was back home on the island, she looked out her grandmother’s kitchen window in time to glimpse a large bird on its nest,…
-
C. Greenfield, Dragons That Fly
Carole Greenfield Dragons That Fly I meet her at the front door every weekday morning. If I don’t, she won’t eat. If I do, she goes with me into the cafeteria, plucks up an apple or orange, sometimes a muffin, maybe even a stick of string cheese. “Take it for snack,” I tell her. “You…