About Our Contributors Xiao You Mok : I’m a third year exchange student from the University of Tokyo, but I’m actually born and raised in Singapore. I do East Asian Studies back in Tokyo, and am mainly interested in comparative cultural studies. Nature’s beautiful, but I love being in big cities (and ideally always in sunny
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“That river’ll suck you up and spit you out” poem by Steph Airth
That river’ll suck you up and spit you out Poem by Steph Airth At Thanksgiving and Christmas, my dad’s company truck trundles up under a patina of Mary Hill grit to take me back to where I’m from. Where I’m from is oh, just an hour or so east. You probably haven’t heard of it.
“Ladybug Girls” poem by Charmaine Li
Ladybug Girls Poem by Charmaine Li In third grade, when the bell rings at 12:10, we dash out–– in our green tunic dresses of Scottish plaid, worn blue sweaters, and untucked shirts. It’s the first warm sigh of spring and the big, big tree that stands behind the playground has arms and fingers that
“Dreams of Perelman” poem by Quincy Arthur
Dreams of Perelman Poem by Quincy Arthur Planes of white, horizonless, like the muted orange of sunlight with eyes closed. The bedraggled Russian Grisha perched on the pointilist surface of a straight line extending forever that way towards the East if where I’m facing is North. Squinting doesn’t help. I’m drawn back to the tangible
“Home (?)” photography by Xiao You Mok
Home (?) Photography by Xiao You Mok (click to enlarge images)
“Thinking of You on the way from German to 19th Century Lit.” poem by Katie Selbee
Thinking of You on the way from German to 19th Century Lit. Poem by Katie Selbee We oldes Soules are, my dear; old as coverless volumes and bronze lamps with chain pulls, button-tufted arm-chairs with embroidered floral patterns and monstrous glass cabinets housing curious objects but o, o when we kiss you grip meine Haare
“What Breaks Your Heart” Academic Essay by Will Munro
What Breaks Your Heart by William Munro We shouldn’t give creatures names. It’s the name that breaks your heart. — Rose Tremain, Sacred Country, 308. My name is William; I’m sick; I’m dangerous. I was twelve years old when I was first determined to be “mentally ill”. An authority figure gave my vague
“A Memory in the Storm” fiction by Shail Bhath
A Memory in the Storm fiction by Shail Bhath When the storm begins—the worst one the island has seen in all my years—I am looking for my cat, Persephone. She is a fat orange tabby with three uneven stripes on her back, and she is going blind. “Persephone!” I call out, from behind the
“Equipo Cuba” fiction by Hannah Siden
Equipo Cuba fiction by Hannah Siden Habana, 1969 I pretend that I am flying as I run. I hold my arms out like airplane wings, and people dodge me as I sprint down La Rampa towards the Malecón. In school they would tell me this is unbecoming behavior for a fourteen year-old young man of