Baby Joseph Nathan Poole Shannon __________ Carter stepped out of his car for the funeral, wishing he’d bought an umbrella. It was grayand drizzling in the cemetery, the scent of snow in the air. He hated April funerals, it alwaysseemed like a bad trade- a life for the renewal of…
Read MoreNike of the Salish Sea Eros Salvatore __________ Kay had the look of a faerie princess found under a mushroom in the forest—a seemingly innocent, adorable young woman searching for love as she metamorphosed into adulthood. But like the famous Nike of Samothrace, Kay had lost her wings and could…
Read MoreGiant Pandas Eat Bamboo Rina Palumbo __________ You could hear the steady sound of chewing, the tearing, the chomping, the rhythmic circularmunching of the giant panda. You could hear the ripping, the tearing, the breaking of thebamboo: stems one by one, leaves one by one, new shoots in bunches. You…
Read MoreLetter from the Guest Editor Jade Turner __________ At five years old, my daughter first heard the phrase, “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade,” and her response was, “But what if we don’t have any sugar?” Let’s face it: life isn’t always sweet. For some, the sun has…
Read MoreThe Sea of Trees Louise Palfreyman __________ Hiroki Oura believes he has been called to the holy mountain by its guardian spirit. He is waiting for a bus at Kawaguchiko station. Tinny music is playing from speakers tacked to the walls. It sets him on edge. This is not the…
Read MoreBent Twigs Kathryn Kulpa __________ The news might have come in the daily paper, but who read papers anymore? Maybe there was an announcement on the radio. A bullhorn buzz: THIS HAS BEEN ATEST OF THE EMERGENCY BROADCAST SYSTEM. HAD THIS BEEN AN ACTUAL EMERGENCY, YOU WOULD ALL BE DEAD…
Read MoreMaking Deals Harvey Huddleston __________ July 23, 1944 Brit paper says when the Nazis invaded Russia they murdered every civilian in their path. But painting all Germans as evil is the same as what Hitler did to the Jews and if we’re no better than that how can we expect…
Read MoreBlooms in Dusk, April ’25 Editor: Vallie Lynn Watson Guest Editor: Jade Turner Managing Editor: Karris Rae Associate Editor: Taryn White Assistant Editors: Robbie Hess, Leah Joseph, Meilyn Woods Interns: Ta’Mya Davis, Elaine Schroeder Jay Edge, “Carnations (Bound in Bloom),” Conté & oil stick on paper. Letter from the Editor…
Read MoreLetter from the Editor Vallie Lynn Watson __________ Moving to a new place means starting over–new house, new co-workers, new doctors–and for the most important members of the family, it means new vets and new dog-sitters. Raven, McKay, and I moved to the bayou eighteen months ago and feel lucky…
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