by Johanna Nauraine

“What else might I expect from a man whose ancient language is ‘a means of communication and dialogue by the Hindu Celestial Gods.’”

by Eva Alter

“The poem’s central metaphor invokes the mythic Chimera—a creature composed of disparate animal parts—as an embodiment of fractured identity.”

by Basil Rosa

“The payments on accrued interest alone for each of the creditors I owe money to will keep me pumping cream into doughnuts in this kitchen for up to fifty hours a week until I’m a corpse.”

by Marcia E. Williams

“The sun's orb, brilliant orange from smoke particles in the air, dipped below the western horizon as lenticular clouds morphed from warm pink to flat gray.”

by Leah Mueller

“My best friend Ezra, a huge fan, was flat broke and lived on my couch in Madison. He never offered much monetary help, but he was good in bed.”

by Emma Wilkins

“We can’t begin, or can at best only begin to understand, this place—its origins, and ours. And we begin, time and time again, with words.”

by Casey Jo Graham Welmers

“The twin towers still punctuated the skyline in New York City, and I could have easily boarded the plane with a chunky shoe full of prison shanks were I so inclined.”

by Adrian Kresnak

“There’s a children’s museum that used to have a severed head in a freezer.”

by JB Polk

“…I believe that life, whether one is young or old, must be lived and commemorated as it comes.”