Winter 2016: Poetry
At Home
by Suzy Harris
At home, the old knife knew its way around a tomato.
The salad bowls lined up like soldiers on the counter.
In charge, the bossy pressure cooker, with its steam whistle,
set the pace. Preening radish flowers,
pats of butter, well-dressed table, ashtrays at the ready,
cocktail glasses whispering about the guests to arrive.
And then the doorbell, coats find their way to the closet,
whiskery stale kisses that can’t be avoided,
ice cubes dance into glasses, olives into martinis,
the cheese and crackers partner up effortlessly
and slide onto little plates, cocktail napkins sidle up,
a loud voice startles a wine glass that shatters,
is swept up and forgotten.
Now, the plates and silverware jump into action,
glasses fill and empty and fill again,
pats of butter find their way into baked potatoes,
plates corral the rolling peas and
anchor the tablecloth, hold everything in place.
After, the shapely Chemex comes out with her
retinue of demitasse cups and saucers,
tiny silver spoons. Brandy, too, with her
snifters, and they stare at each other,
haughty and proud, until they find themselves
back on the cluttered kitchen counter top
reduced to lipstick smudges and coffee grounds.
One by one, the coats seek out their owners,
help them to their cars. Now, the dishwasher takes charge,
ordering all the plates and silverware,
cups and platters, each into its rightful sliver of space,
making room for the last spoon and spatula
before closing its door and shifting into gear.
The sponges drag themselves across the Formica,
ashtrays empty into the garbage,
the house takes a deep breath,
the windows rattle and release a bit of hot air
into the wintery night.
Quiet now, the rug and couches inch closer together
to stay warm as the house sleeps.
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Celebrating nature, home and the cycles of life – twenty poets light the winter night. |
Six stories use magic to explore loss, grief and healing. |
With imagery of flora and fauna, four artists animate the winter landscape. |
Five young women dig deep to each speak their individual truth . |
From emerging to established writers – meet the women behind our eighth issue’s voices and visions. |
LETTER FROM THE MANAGING EDITOR
POETRY Northwest Equinox by Kris Demien Gradations of Gray by Wendy Thompson With Gladness by Sara Graves Home by Leora Marialicia González For a Grade School Classmate by Joan Maiers Canning Factory Road by Elizabeth Stoessl To Make a Prairie by Carolyn Martin At Home by Suzy Harris Family Disagreement by Tricia Knoll The Bullfrogs by Katherine Boyer Cows by Rebecca Jamieson Lesson by Stacey Vallas Stardust by Erin Iwata Perspective by Carolyn Martin Lacrosse Season by Elizabeth Harlan-Ferlo The Tangled Path by Suzanne LaGrande Matched Set by Tanya Jarvik False Bus Stop by Elizabeth Harlan-Ferlo Last Visit by Erin Iwata October Walk with My Mother by Ann Sinclair First Rothko Exercise by Elizabeth McLagan Fractions by Susan Blackaby Tea by Melineh Yemenidjian Return by Stacey Vallas PROSE Scarab Man by Cynthia McGean Planetary Influences by Alida Thacher Bone of the Past by Burky Achilles Teachings: A Buddhist Ghost Story by Ann Sihler Wrangler by Desiree Wright A Nicaraguan Spring by Pamela Russell Bejerano FEATURED ART Into the Wonder by Annamieka Hopps Davidson Deep Blue Meditation by Annamieka Hopps Davidson Weave Me Into the Sea by Annamieka Hopps Davidson Crassula 2 by Alison Foshee Crassula 5 by Alison Foshee Crassula 6 by Alison Foshee Warm Autumn by Tamar Hammer Girl with Conch by Tamar Hammer With Her Dog by Tamar Hammer YOUNG VOICES Love Beyond Loss by Isabel Lickey Submerged by Raimy Khalife Hamdan Which Way? by Alli Rodenbaugh To Autumn by Sara Barkouli The Storm by Elie Doubleday CONTRIBUTORS |