Wild Violet Featured Works: Week of Oct. 21 (Loss)
Loss can take many forms — from death to the loss of a way of life — and this week’s contributors find ways to cope with those feelings. In Ron Torrence’s short story, “The Long Walk Home,” a general comes to terms with the circumstances of his son’s death. In Channel Brenner’s poem, “What I Can’t See,” a mother finds a way to move on after losing a child. In Chris Drew’s short story, “Achilles’ Last Stand,” a music journalist shares personal insight into the true story of a rocker’s...
Read MoreWild Violet Featured Works: Week of Oct. 14 (Parenting)
Parenting leads to both challenging and rewarding experiences that most people could never have anticipated beforehand. This week, our contributors examine different aspects of parenting: In Yasmin Tong’s essay, “Learning How to Love and Let Go,” she shares the rewards and challenges of trying to adopt through the foster care system. In David Linebarger’s poem, “SAT Scores,” dedicated to his daughter, he contemplates the meanings behind a big life event. In Thais Derich’s essay, “The Magic of Eating a Banana,” she delves into the...
Read MoreWild Violet Featured Works: Week of Oct. 7 (Cats)
My cat, Luke, protects our house When we put out a call for works involving pets, all that came were cats. Perhaps it’s because cats look so mysterious: they allow us to project onto them all our emotions. Or perhaps there really is something ineffably marvelous about cats. You be the judge. In Margaret Karmazin’s science-fiction story, “Brodsky,” a woman begins to suspect that her cat may be keeping secrets. The poem by Pamela Hill Epps, “At My Feet,” explores the relationship between humans and cats. In Barbara Kussow’s poem,...
Read MoreWild Violet Featured Works: Week of Sep. 2 (Labor Day)
Labor Day, the American celebration of workers, also signifies the beginning of the transition from summer to fall. This week’s contributors celebrate the two meanings of the holiday. Jane Bowman Smith’s poem, “Wrightsville Beach: Observation Lesson,” shows us a writer’s distant view of the world. Mahnaz Badihian’s poem, “Gathas,” takes a lyrical look at the turn of the seasons. In Melodie Corrigall’s “Olé,” a sick office worker goes toreador on her...
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Recycled Woman arrives along with all the seasons Arrives with freshness and the beauty of spring Arrives with the old, yellow leaves in autumn Arrives in the season of ice and freezing rain She’s present everywhere Along the dirt roads Along the plains In the forgotten houses Between the lines of Gathas* Across the fire temples In the temples, mosques, churches With frozen dreams Recycled Woman knows that life is like The morning dew sitting on the green leaves So brief, so fragile She learned that everywhere far or near In the troubled roads of Harlem Next to the green beauty of...
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