Issue 04

poetry

“Risorius”

by Raymond Luczak

“Reverberation from a Dream” by Maggie Elliott

“Reverberation from a Dream” by Maggie Elliott

—a muscle that retracts the angle of the mouth

without involving the skin around the eyes—

Who knew that fakery had a muscle
all its own hidden in plain sight
of the face? It blends so well
into the scenery of a great smile
that you could be forgiven
for being so easily fooled
at parties where no one wants
to attend and yet must. Their eyes
turn into a mirage of interest
on the edge of glazing over
into a reflection showing nods
and eyelids wanting to shut down
the droning conversation. A little
pretension has never hurt anyone.

*

Raymond Luczak is the author and editor of 25 titles, including Once upon a Twin (Gallaudet University Press) and Compassion, Michigan (Modern History Press). An inaugural Zoeglossia Fellow, he lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Find him online at raymondluczak.com and on social media @deafwoof (plus @raymondsbooks on Facebook).

Maggie Elliott is a nature photographer based in northern New York. Her path as a photographer was solidified by an ache that began in childhood: to share the wonders she discovered in the microscopic landscapes of nature. Her art philosophy centers around bringing overlooked moments of life into focus. She is also a seasonal farm worker and has traveled around the United States volunteering through WWOOF.


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"A Bird in the Orange Sky Turning Purple" by Natalie Marino