Summer 2016: Poetry

Zygote

by Nancy Flynn

~considering a snapshot dated March 1955

You were, of course, but one more barely
thought. Never hypothesis, never

a two-fingered wishbone, crossed. And, yes
what predictable spin, un/kissed. Oh,

umbilical-veined, one more maelstrom
of the one meets one. Beyond the chintz,

beyond the tatted planes of lace and
bloodying dots, her frock of cinching

disarray. And him of the spit-shined
Sunday shoes, that jittery suit. Six

stitches to fix the gash where her fore-
head hit the glass after he veered to

avoid a rushing wrong-lane car. How
lucky! A miracle! Saved! The first,

all original, scarred. Not long till
the flashbulbs blink and wink and beg for

the doll to open her blues and grin.
You of the one plus one equaled one.

Poetry A sampling of the powerful female creative force thriving in our region.		Prose Six women dazzle us with both their honesty and humor.		Artwork Four artists use layering and process as metaphors for life beyond art.		Contributors Meet the fabulous women behind the voices and visions of our ninth issue.

LETTER FROM THE MANAGING EDITOR POETRY         Isabel's Purse by Deborah Akers         refuge by Deborah Akers         Kiteboarder at Road's End by Cathy Cain         Caramel is Made at the Verge of Burning by Deborah Dombrowski         Controlled Burn by Linda Drach         Approaching Seventy by Carol Ellis         Zygote by Nancy Flynn         In Collision by Delia Garigan         My Mother's Hair by Leanne Grabel         Sheen by Leanne Grabel         Allegiance by Melanie Green         on my two thousand, seven hundred and fourth sabbath by Melanie Green         Sitting Shiva on My Birthday by Andrea Hollander         Laws of Physics by Andrea Hollander         I Want to Unfold by Tricia Knoll         My Stairway by Tricia Knoll         Fancy by Barbara LaMorticella         How to Know When You are Dreaming by Jone Rush MacCulloch         Didn't We Touch Clouds? by Eileen Pettycrew         Playlist by Suzanne Sigafoos         No Exit by Charlotte Udziela         Living Alone by Pat Phillips West         My Husband's Handwriting by Pat Phillips West PROSE         Let Me Explain by Carisa Miller         The Itching by Elizabeth Scott         Ben by Edee Lemonier         The Passenger by Alex Behr         Risk Takers by Ashley-Renee Cribbins         Cooking Lessons by Joanna Rose ART         Featured Art by Jeni Lee         I Never Promised You a Rose Garden #1 by Katherine Mead         I Never Promised You a Rose Garden #4 by Katherine Mead         I Never Promised You a Rose Garden #5 by Katherine Mead         Stasis by Sarah Laird         Candescence by Sarah Laird         Candescence (detail) by Sarah Laird         Homage to Comfort Women Throughout the World by Carolyn Campbell         The Beguiling Beauty of Life in Distress by Carolyn Campbell         Reflections of Transitioning by Carolyn Campbell CONTRIBUTORS