Issue 6
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A. Tillmans, New Year’s Eve
Andrea Tillmanns New Year’s Eve At first, we only saw the exploding lights, as we do every year. But when they were supposed to go out, they refused, seeking a common shape instead.Just as scales enveloped a fish and defined its shape, scaly lights shifted until they enveloped an air-filled body in the air and…
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J. Simms, On Becoming a Great Auk
Jess Simms On Becoming a Great Auk You were king, once. Before strangers invaded, you ruled benevolent, a giant in small lands, so secure in your belonging, you lost the knowledge of flight. Once upon a time, your bones were seen as holy, your feathers magic. And they were, once. When you needed for nothing.…
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J. Simms, On Becoming a Unicorn
Jess Simms On Becoming a Unicorn You have big hooves to fill. All that talk of magic and beauty, rainbows and purity—it’s a lot to live up to. You’re just a horse with a horn, when it comes down to it, and it’s exhausting to kill the same dream over and over and over. So…
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J. Simms, On Becoming an Albatross
Jess Simms On Becoming an Albatross You were not born to be a burden. When you soar the wind is freedom, weightless over endless water. It is only when on land that you are heavy, a vessel filled by others’ guilt, your wings slacked by their violence. They don’t care to hear of the distant…
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M. Sterling, Sonnet for the Janus Bird
Meghan Sterling Sonnet for the Janus Bird In the dream, I was writing a poem for a two-headedbird. I only remember the last line—the self, past and current. Current as in the pull of the sea. Current as in the electric truth of who I have become. How much I have changed, wild bird. Even…
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M. Duncan, Until I Met You I Was Merely Human
Margie Duncan Until I Met You I Was Merely Human Turtle loves its shell, that weighty carapacethat makes anywhere on earth a home, and shell loves its turtle, the promenadethrough any thicket toward adventure.You’re my palankeen through brush and storm,and I’m your speckled shelter from the beasts,though there’s an argument to be made for the…
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M. Diedericks, UFOs and Euphemisms
Megan Diedericks UFOs and Euphemisms When the shooting staris just an alien spacecraft,be carefulwhat you wish for. Megan Diedericks writes poetry and fiction; everything from meek to macabre can be found in between the lines. The 2025 Rhysling Award Nominee is the author of the darkest of times, the darkest of thoughts (2022, self-published) and…
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S. Laskin, Breakfast with the stars
Sarah Laskin Breakfast with the Stars Up walking Rocky in the proto-dawn,turn the corner where the trees openand Orion is exposed to view, alwayssteps behind the seven sisters, his prey.Stand and watch, wait for the signalthat says Orion, time to give your bow back to the prop master, make wayon the stage for the Sun,…
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D. Coor, Making Apple Crisp on New Years Day
Deborrah Corr Making Apple Crisp on New Year’s Day The apple fits the curve of my left fingers. With the right, I wield the peeler. Its soundtrack, a soft scrape and grate as I rotate the globe, round and round until it trails a long tail that falls to the sink, like holiday wrappings that…
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M. Maddox, Let Them Eat Cake
Marjorie Maddox Let Them Eat Cake attributed to Marie AntoinetteWhy not lose yourself in Black Forest, dress yourself in Red Velvet, speak German Chocolate fluently while upside-down in Pineapple? Because. Because. Look past your own table. Sure, in this no-cake-walk of a world, savorCarrot, Apple, & Strawberry; weigh Sponge & Pound; choose Devil’sover Angel, but…