The Hologram of the Cat Meg Pokrass __________ Today, Muffin barks at the front door for an hour. She nips at our ankles, though not in a painful way. Not in a way that means, ANIMAL ALERT. What is it, girl? we say. Maybe it’s the hologram of the cat,…
Read MoreSeconds Nicole Monoghan __________ Gramps would narrate what he thought the dog was thinking based on her facial expressions and body language. She sat tall on a loveseat, her long face blank. “I’m over this,” Gramps flatly declared, as the voice of Ruby’s thoughts. I laughed. Ruby got up in…
Read MoreHowling at Osito Dawn Sperber __________ When I howl like a wolf, Osito sits before me like an attentive philosophy student. I think I gain a lot of clout in his eyes. He barks back, then rounds out his vowels like mine, and he gets so excited when he gets…
Read MoreLetter from the Editor Vallie Lynn Watson __________ This two-part issue was a bear (animal pun intended), and wouldn’t be possible without contest judge Ken Foster and Boudin‘s managing editor, Abbie Skinner. Abbie read all contest entries, blind, selected both the top ten, and then the top five, which we sent…
Read MoreAll Music: Espressivo March ’24 Editor: Vallie Lynn Watson Managing Editor: Abbie Skinner Guest Editor: Karris Rae Assistant Editors: Aiman Tariq, Taryn White, Meilyn Woods Editorial Assistants: Mia Bonds, Alexandria Knight Shawnda McCollum, Rhythm Section, inspired by “Sound of Silence” by Disturbed Letter from the Editor by Vallie Lynn Watson…
Read MoreCemetery One Nighter Paul Corman-Roberts __________ It isn’t the name she told you, the name that isn’t her real name but the name they told your friend, heartbroken back in the pizza joint you hit up where you first squeezed her thigh under the table out of your friend’s sight, neither of you knowing she was death, happy to clasp your fingers…
Read MoreThe Music Carries Me Like The Wind Carries My Voice Vallie McGallion, High School Contest Winner __________ As if the sunlight, warm on my skin Seeped below, trickled within I feel the melody within me, visceral Metaphorical, and all the while, literal The beach’s breeze, blowing in my hair Carries…
Read MoreOn Becoming a Country Music Song Jenny Yang Cropp __________ That first night, I traced invisible letters in the shower, water carving their song into my skin. A mother-no-mother girl could have a new mother if only she changed her middle name to Lynn. L – Y – N –…
Read MoreThree Songs Mike Wilson __________ I A bird untucks her head from her wing. measures the spaciousness of sky. Clutching the branch, she feels the tree drinking earth with the beak of its roots. Without thought, she sings I am happy this morning before fighting for food begins. II King’s…
Read MoreThe Music’s Gonna Get You Margo Williams __________ Caitlin saw him from across the tavern. He was at least ten years older than she, maybe more. His dark hair grew in waves to his shoulders; his five o’clock shadow was sexy. He strummed his guitar with such purpose. Long pale…
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