Winter 2014: Prose

Fear Jars

Non-fiction by Jessica Zisa

I’d like to place my fears into several jars, so I can see them for what they truly are. I’d like to keep those hidden formless shadows, in the darkest corner of my musky basement, secluded in specimen form. All lids should be securely fastened, for fears are infectious and highly contagious. I’d also like to keep my collection clearly labeled, according to their content and the order in which I store them. The first jar would hold my fear of being boring, dull, and hopelessly uninspired. The second jar: fear of losing my mascara. The third would hold my fear of being lost in my own chaos, trapped in my own head. The fifth jar: having no voice. The seventh jar would be my fear of unredeemable failure. The 10th: controlling my own demise. The 18th jar would hold my fear of having no friends, and the 21st: fear of making new ones. The 27th jar: fear of coffee spills. The 36th would be the fear of no one coming to my funeral. The 47th would store tornadoes. Earthquakes do not scare me. The 55th: turning into my mother. The 62nd jar would contain decisions. The 68th jar: being alone. But the last one, I dare not speak aloud, for risk of silent infiltration. That 77th jar, my fear you’ll take your love away.

Poetry Multi-faceted, poignant and inspiring. We’ve caught thirteen never-before-published poems by twelve master-class voices.		Prose Five women share their talent and themselves in new, surprising and heartfelt ways.		Artwork Established craftswomen and aspiring visionaries add colorful richness to our most recent issue.		Young Voices The lyrical language of five young poets will delight you.		Contributors Meet the authors and artists who make the Winter 2014 edition a rich, varied and engaging experience.

LETTER FROM THE MANAGING EDITOR POETRY         After the Ice Storm by Linda Strever         Waiting for a Diagnosis by Linda Strever         Anticipation by Penelope Scambly Schott         How to Survive the Loss of Your Best Friend by Diane Averill         Current Conditions by Carol Ellis         For a Hot Shot by Susan DeFreitas         Focal Distance by Jenna Thompson         Bridge by Jennifer Liberts Weinberg         Motherhood by Elizabeth Stoessl         Nice Girl Regrets by Pattie Palmer Baker         Lost Child Lullabye by Tiah Lindner Rephael         To Inhabit the Body by Willa Schneberg         Love Letter by Annie Lightheart PROSE         Like Water and Stones by B.E. Scully         Messages by Mary Mandeville         Fear Jars by Jessica Zisa         Pie by Susan Lehman         Confinement by Valerie Wagner ART         Where the Buffalo and Unicorn Once Roamed by Katie Todd         Midwestern Dreamin' by Katie Todd         Monday's Child by Sarah Fagan         Sweet Tea by Sarah Fagan         The Daydream by Kendall Madden         Beatrice by Kendall Madden YOUNG VOICES         Chinese Mangos by Sophia Mautz         The Bridge by Kate LeBlanc         Ephemeral by Jillian Briglia         The River by Sheila Panyam         Compost by Sophia Mautz CONTRIBUTORS