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…
Plate 1. Sicily Spencer of Kirbyville (left) and judge Lisa Jennings of Protem (right) inspect “Emily,” a 10-week-old New Zealand White. Jennings is current Missouri director of the Havana Rabbit Breeders Association. Rabbits by Joshua Heston “Oh, look at the cute bunny!” For a large number of folks, the history, culture and science of rabbits…
Plate 1. Fourteen-year old Linsey Anderson of Conway, Missouri, leads “Roxie” into the ring as judge Andrew Chandler looks on. “Roxie’s shoulders are blended smoothly into her front end,” notes Chandler. The 4H Taney County Animal Show: Cattle by Joshua Heston Thanks to the hard work of folks like Cassandra Nebena, Ken and Kimberly Dixon,…
Milk Cow Blues by Gideon Pellegrino She got me! She sure got me good! The other day, there I was, milking as usual. Out of the blue, Blam! A hoof print was stamped onto my leg as if she had branded me. “What the heck?” I yelled. She looked back at me out of the…