Winter 2013: Poetry

Before Going to Murder by the Book, We Stop at Zell's

by Carol Frischmann

Before going to Murder by the Book, we stop at Zell’s
to split a German-Apple pancake. He
raises his cup; I don’t like to watch the
coffee struggle to remain within the rim.
Your mother never got over that you didn’t
marry and have children, he says.
I always ignore his declarations, hot forged
and barbed, imperfectly disguised harpoons.

Today, I am tired. Before he takes what’s
left, I scoop half the raspberry jam and say,
Well, I never got over it either. I wanted
kids who would ride farm ponies, tend
chickens – a mess of adopted kids.

The eggy pancake comes divided, on two
plates, each half with powdered sugar and
lemon, each stuffed with firm chunks of apple.
Why didn’t you get married? He acts as if
I could go to a spouse store. I’d like
to see your stock of tall farmers, indifferent
to color and culture, but not too Godly.
I say, I never found the right person.

He waves his fork. The bra-burners
did you no favor, con-fus-ing ev-er-y-thing.
You wanted independence, and being an
independent person is not a marriage.
Afternoons on the black pony, I had galloped
the barbed wire fence from one end of the farm
to the other. I’d rather be alone than trapped.

Poetry Enjoy the richness: thirteen poets, nineteen poems, and a diversity of style and craft.		Prose Three memoirists share their emotional truths in these slices-of-life.		Artwork Our featured artist, as well as painters and photographers, provide colorful visions that will leave you seeing the world in new ways.		Young Voices Three emerging writers share talent and creativity far beyond their years.		Contributors Learn more about the contributors who make us proud of our Winter 2013 edition.

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS POETRY         A Convention of Ordinary Astophysicists Attends by Jodie Marion         A Father's Love by Darlene Pagán         Before Going to Murder by the Book, We Stop at Zell's by Carol Frischmann         Decomposition by Pat Phillips West         Dream by Jodie Marion         Fishtail by Margaret Chula         From the 7th Floor of Doernbecher Children's Hospital by Larina Warnock         Inside the Basilica del Voto Nacional, Quito, Ecuador by Stella Jeng Guillory         Interview with My Mother by Cindy Williams Gutiérrez         Mail Call by Darlene Pagán         Midnight Choices by Kathryn Ridall         My First Butcher by Barbara Drake         On the Banks of the Indian River by Jodie Marion         Placental Abruption by Larina Warnock         Playboys by Andrea Hollander         Saturday Visitation by Kelly Running         The Blizzard of '78 by Darlene Pagán         The Hundred Names of Love by Annie Lighthart         The Old Life by Andrea Hollander PROSE         Bennett's Outing by Julia Clark Salmon         Whale by Lyssa Tall Anolik         Wisdom Tree by Julie Rogers ART         Man with Chicken by Anne John         Ancient Abstract by Anne John         Blowing Bubbles by Betty Joe Armstrong         Stormscape by Jean Harkin         Nick's Jays by Huon Quach         Diptych by Huon Quach YOUNG VOICES         Different by Emily Boring         Old Clock by Erin Blackburn         Drink by Julien Signorini CONTRIBUTORS