A Modern Marvel by Matthew S. Farmer (art by Jenny Judlin) A spectacle of man’s engineering Concrete, Cables, towering high we pledge our faith we pledge our trust we bring our family we bring our future A young couple drives across in their yellow car looking for lunch on the other side A single mother…
Allegiances by Lisa Livingston-Martin (art by Lacey Finchum) “Federal riders!” Willie yelled as he came through the back door, stopping in the hallway, hands on his knees, gulping air. Elizabeth looked at William and he nodded. Neither questioned whether their seven-year-old grandson was mistaken. Elizabeth turned to Elvira, “You take the children and hide.” Elvira…
Evadora’s Temptation by Grace S. Gage (art by Shannon Bacon) A turquoise thumb nail plunges past the cardboard tab of the wine box and assisted by the glittered nail of the index finger retrieves the spigot. A single twist, and the inky red wine pulsates into the stemless wine glass suspended by the other set…
Layers by Lauri Lemke Thompson (art by Mary Arneson) The intricate design, yet naturally flowing beauty of a pink rose. Who thought of such a thing? Petals upon petals, overlapping. Such are these Ozark mountains When one overlooks their rounded shapes – Hazy blue hill upon blue hill, arranged with grace In layers, Like petals.…
American Spirit by Dustin Snavely (art by Chris Boyd) We are all watching the fall of the U.S. empire; an empire never designed to be one. The United States was born from self-sovereignty, built on courage and conviction. The spirit of America lies in its bold ability to reject the common sense ignorance of the…
PTSD: The Parent of Disease by Jody Johnson Godfrey, FRS (art by Sarah Hebert) For years, I wrote health columns for several publication conglomerates but, of late, I have come to realize that in writing about different diseases, I failed to go “backwards” enough in order to progress “forward.” However, in my defense, there is…
Toes by Jenn Parks (art by Melody Courley) Nine years that summer, my best friend and me Meandered the wheat fields adventurously. He always in blue jeans and I, a sundress, Never in shoes, despite parental requests. He laughed as I chatted with cows while they stood And he pretended to battle like he was…
No Wine for Ismenos by Anthony Cirilla (art by Janelle Patterson) The river was clear to the bottom. The rocks resting on the riverbed were worn smooth by the eternal current, through which small fish darted like unaimed arrows. Between the banks and beneath the reaches of the alder trees, a keelboat floated slower than…
Above, original artwork by Carla Davidson, inspired by Water to Red by Rachel Riutzel. Presented during SOTO June 2019 Writers Artists Night. Water to Red by Rachel Riutzel What is it that we refuse to see? Why does the world face the same predicaments Clinging to their history? Society is fuming, mankind up in arms…
Plate 1. Eleven-year old Cameron Hunt of T-Highway moves “Rosco” into position in the show ring. Getting set up quickly is an integral part of 4H showmanship. Sheep by Joshua Heston Sheep have been domesticated since antiquity. A powerful symbolism surrounds these animals in a variety of cultures, most notably Judaic Hebrew culture in the…