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The Promethean, Volume 28, The Last Torch, 2020, English Department, Concordia University-Portland

The Promethean

In September, we did not know that this edition of The Promethean would truly be the last. Riding the wave of Blue Apocalypse, our editors sat in front of each other composing a pool of possible themes. We wanted a title that captured the loss of the College of Arts & Sciences at Concordia University – Portland.

We were still present, learning, and generating beautiful work, despite mourning a gaping wound. We wanted to remind those around us—and even ourselves—that the literary heart of this university still burned with passion, talent, and perseverance.

When I suggested The Last Torch …

The Promethean, Volume 27, Blue Apocalypse, 2019, English Department, Concordia University-Portland

The Promethean

Like any other, this past year was full of many hard lessons that were difficult to swallow. It's easy to feel like the world is falling apart sometimes, or worse, that you're alone in the devastation. However, remember that when it feels like the end of the world, you will find sanctuary in your community, your loved ones, your passions, and in yourself.

It is my greatest hope that you also will find sanctuary throughout these pages, a collection of our voices coming together to create something beautiful.

This issue is dedicated to the College of Arts & Sciences. In …

The Promethean, Volume 26, Planet Nowhere, 2018, English Department, Concordia University-Portland

The Promethean

The first week of the semester, our editing staff sat down and tried to come up with a theme for this journal that would encapsulate the Concordia community, with all its beauty, flaws, and in-betweens.

To us, Planet Nowhere means the feeling of hopelessness and the intimidation of the unknown. But it also means endless possibilities and the beauty of the expanse before us. No matter how lost we may be, we can find our way home.

We wanted to build a sense of community within our pages, where people were free to share their dreams, fears, triumphs and losses… …

The Promethean, Volume 25, The Velvet Night, 2017, English Department, Concordia University-Portland

The Promethean

In these divisive times, we are at the precipice of greatness. Instead of subduing our voices or using them to antagonize others, we write. We type madly and scribble hurriedly. We communicate boldly and kindly. And, when we’re done, and really proud of it, we publish a literary journal.

If America is going to heal, let it be glorious. And what’s more glorious than writing?

On behalf of Dr. Kimberly Knutsen and Sonja Baumeister, the assistant managing editor, Amber Bains, the student editors and contributors, and myself, I present this year’s issue of The Promethean: The Velvet Night. …

The Promethean, Volume 24, Bluebird Whiskey, 2016, English Department, Concordia University-Portland

The Promethean

The short stories, poems, and photographs featured in the journal come from a variety of talented individuals, and I thank every contributor and staff member of The Promethean for making Bluebird Whiskey possible.

On behalf of the diligent Dr. Kim Knutsen and Sonja Baumeister, the student editors and contributors, and myself, I present this year’s issue of the The Promethean: Bluebird Whiskey.

Haley Bucher, Managing Editor

The Promethean, Volume 23, Cats In Zanzibar, 2015, English Department, Concordia University-Portland

The Promethean

With every new generation it is important to look back and learn from those that have come before us, but it is also essential to redefine the new era on a personal level. Henry David Thoreau, venerated author and philosopher, concluded his novel Walden with the line, "It is not worth the while to go round the world to count the cats in Zanzibar." Thoreau's sentiment was that a change of soul or purpose is more important than a change of scenery.

I speak for myself as well as a lot of other late-teen and twenty-something when I say that …

The Promethean, Volume 22, Deeper Roots, 2014, English Department, Concordia University-Portland

The Promethean

Every year, the staff of The Promethean strives to compile a magazine that tells the story of a greater group of writers. Though all are different, they write about a greater Truth.

This year, we decided to inspire the writers by taking a quote from an American legend, Dolly Parton.

"Storms make trees take deeper roots."

Pain and sorrow are among the stronger of emotions and a great equalizer among all people. Though sorrow makes for mournful works, it is through the hardships and pain that we are better able to experience the goodness that the world has to offer. …

The Promethean, Volume 21, Rust And Stardust, 2013, English Department, Concordia University-Portland

The Promethean

Calvin:"If people sat outside and looked at the stars each night, I'll bet they'd live a lot differently."
Hobbes:"How so?"
Calvin:"Well, when you look into infinity, you realize that there are more important things than what people do all day."

--Bill Watterson, Calvin and Hobbes

This year The Promethean staff wanted a theme that would inspire people to look up at the stars and feel the power of the universe. After four weeks of discussion we decided that Rust and Stardust would bring a variety of submissions inspired by the infinite creativity the universe lends us. To …

The Promethean, Volume 20, Bring On The Buzzards, 2012, English Department, Concordia University-Portland

The Promethean

Every year, the staff of The Promethean has the same goals. We want to create a bold journal full of quality literature and artwork. We want to push the limits of both our contributors and our readers. We want to create a memorable journal that Concordia University-Portland can be proud of.

This year, we decided to accomplish these goals by going back to our roots. We decided that we would use the story of Prometheus, our journal's namesake, as our inspiration. Prometheus was a god who saw that humans needed fire to survive. Against the will of the other gods, …

The Promethean, Volume 19, Number 02, Forbidden, Spring 2011, English Department, Concordia University-Portland

The Promethean

This year, The Promethean Staff wanted to encourage a large variety of entries. We wanted to get all sorts of submissions from all sorts of people. We didn't want to limit anyone. We also could not decide on a theme. So, we, the group of indecisive English majors, did what no literary journal staff has ever done before. That statement may or may not be true, but we did something pretty rare. We chose two themes. We decided we would have a double book, with two covers. One theme would be Wonderlings, the other Forbidden. The book would be able …

The Promethean, Volume 19, Number 01, Wonderlings, Fall 2010, English Department, Concordia University-Portland

The Promethean

This year, The Promethean Staff wanted to encourage a large variety of entries. We wanted to get all sorts of submissions from all sorts of people. We didn't want to limit anyone. We also could not decide on a theme. So, we, the group of indecisive English majors, did what no literary journal staff has ever done before. That statement may or may not be true, but we did something pretty rare. We chose two themes. We decided we would have a double book, with two covers. One theme would be Wonderlings, the other Forbidden. The book would be able …

The Promethean, Volume 18, Do I Dare Disturb The Universe, 2010, English Department, Concordia University-Portland

The Promethean

The vision for The Promethean this year was a journal not afraid to be bold. Not afraid to disturb this universe that we perceive and expose reality. Leading the editorial staff this year as Managing Editor was not easy. My predecessors set the expectations high and have set a precedent of continual improvement; this seemed a little daunting.

As with every project of this caliber there were complications alongside wonderful submissions and miscommunications that accompanied deep conversation. I consider myself lucky when I look at my editing team. As a staff we are passionate about many styles of writing, about …

The Promethean, Volume 17, Contents May Be Hot, 2009, English Department, Concordia University-Portland

The Promethean

During our first meeting, I let the staff know my expectations for the 2008-2009 Promethean edition. Like previous years, I imagined fresh, bold writing and raw talent. With the same inspiration, I imagined a bolder journal; a journal with power and authenticity; a journal that would forever be memorable for the quality, quantity and impression. The Promethean staff grounded these ideas, while the contributors shaped them. I've never felt prouder of The Promethean. Graduating and leaving the position to Kristine never scared me; I knew we had the same visions, and I give all the credit to her.

-Jess Bouchard, …

The Promethean, Volume 16, Revelation, 2008, English Department, Concordia University-Portland

The Promethean

On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of nations.
--Revelation 22:2

Minor things can become moments of great revelation when encountered for the first time.
--Margot Fonteyn

This year, The Promethean staff wanted a bold theme to complement last year's theme of Genesis. After much consideration, we felt Revelation would bring in a variety of submissions exploring the nature of endings and epiphanies. To our delight, this proved true, and we could not be more pleased …

The Promethean, Volume 15, Genesis, 2007, English Department, Concordia University-Portland

The Promethean

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth... And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.
--Genesis 1:1,3

Passion is the genesis of genius.
--Anthony Robbins

In this issue, we explore the nature of beginnings. Our theme, Genesis, has brought in a broad range of submissions, from poetry reflecting on our Biblical roots to memoirs detailing first experiences at college. We asked the Concordia community to submit poems, nonfiction, artwork, photography, and short fiction that embraced our theme, but did not limit our acceptance only to work that was inspired by beginnings. What we found, …

The Promethean, Volume 14, Transformations, 2006, English Department, Concordia University-Portland

The Promethean

The way of the creative works through change and transformation, so that each thing receives its true nature and destiny and comes into permanent accord with the Great Harmony: this is what furthers and what perseveres. -Alexander Pope

Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good, and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2

This year we honor our namesake, Prometheus, known in Greek mythology as the patron of human civilization. When presented with the task of filling the earth with …

The Promethean, Volume 13, Number 02, Spring/Summer 2005, English Department, Concordia University-Portland

The Promethean

For this Spring 2005 issue of The Promethean, I have had the honor of being Student Editor. It has been both challenging and fun reviewing the literary work of my peers and having the privilege of working with them to create this unique issue. Through the course of this semester, while working on The Promethean staff, I have recognized the meaning of integrity in literature.

Concordia University is a Lutheran school that works hard to uphold and demonstrate Christian values. While some of the material printed in this issue may not directly reflect the views or mission statement of the …

The Promethean, Volume 13, Number 01, Fall/Winter 2004, English Department, Concordia University-Portland

The Promethean

How do we decide what kind of material to print in the Promethean? It seems like that ought to be a simple question to answer, even one with an obvious answer: the best writing from the students, staff, and faculty of Concordia University. But, in fact, it's a question and a conflict that while it has frustrated some students and Promethean staffers, has ultimately vitalized our sense of purpose and energized the conversation about the role and shape of the literary arts at a Christian university. And so, since last spring, we have been wrestling with questions of what kind …

The Promethean, Volume 12, Number 02, Winter 2004, English Department, Concordia University-Portland

The Promethean

Welcome to the Fall/Winter 2003-04 issue of The Promethean. We are pleased to feature essays, poems, and artwork contributed by members of the Concordia University community during the fall semester. This is our most substantial issue to date and we are pleased with the breadth of perspective and genre that is represented. This issue features the three entries in our annual fall themed-essay forum: "Is the World a Safer Place?" The writers that participated, printed here, offer thoughtful reflections on our responses to September 11 and the war on tenorism.

Also in this issue local poet David Biespiel reflects on …

The Promethean, Volume 12, Number 01, Fall 2003, English Department, Concordia University-Portland

The Promethean

No abstract provided.

The Promethean, Volume 11, Number 02, Spring/Summer 2003, English Department, Concordia University-Portland

The Promethean

No abstract provided.

The Promethean, Volume 11, Number 01, Fall/Winter 2002, English Department, Concordia University-Portland

The Promethean

This issue of the Promethean marks several changes in the journal's look and mission. In keeping with the convention of many literary journals, we have moved to a half-page format and standardized our layout so that the focus is on the written words our contributors have shared. The decision to feature artwork only on the cover was difficult, and we hope that our planned website will provide students with an opportunity to share their talents on-line. We are also featuring, in this issue and in forthcoming fall/winter issues, the winners of our themed essay contest. This fall the contest asked …

The Promethean, Volume 10, Spring/Summer 2002, English Department, Concordia University-Portland

The Promethean

Welcome to the Spring/Summer 2002 issue of The Promethean. In addition to thoughtful work by the poets and fiction writers of the Concordia University community, we also feature the winners of our second annual Best Freshman Essay contest. Judged by Professor of Education, Dr. Jan Albrecht, this contest showcases work written by students for their English 121 classes.

With this issue, we also announce the terms of our annual prize in creative writing. Each year we will ask a distinguished writer from the community to read the contributions to the Fall/Winter and Spring/Summer issues of the journal and make a …

The Promethean, Volume 09, Number 02, Spring 2001, English Department, Concordia University-Portland

The Promethean

No abstract provided.

The Promethean, Volume 09, Number 01, Fall 2000, English Department, Concordia University-Portland

The Promethean

No abstract provided.

The Promethean, Volume 08, Number 02, Spring 2000, English Department, Concordia University-Portland

The Promethean

No abstract provided.

The Promethean, Volume 08, Number 01, Fall 1999, English Department, Concordia University-Portland

The Promethean

No abstract provided.

The Promethean, Volume 07, Number 02, Spring 1999, English Department, Concordia University-Portland

The Promethean

No abstract provided.

The Promethean, Volume 07, Number 01, Fall 1998, English Department, Concordia University-Portland

The Promethean

This issue is dedicated to my fabulous Promethean editorial staff — Charlotte, John, Michael, Tim, and Jamie. They had a real vision of what they wanted The Promethean to be, and their creativity and artistry show on every page. In addition, you will find their names as bylines alongside many of the works in this issue, since they are all talented artists in their own right.

So thanks, gang, see you next semester. And best of luck to Charlotte as she graduates and goes on to new adventures. We'll miss you!

The Promethean, Volume 06, Number 02, Spring 1998, English Department, Concordia University-Portland

The Promethean

What a glorious spring! How lucky we are to live in such delightful surroundings. The Pacific Northwest is a gardener's delight, full of fertile soil and scenic beauty. Our own Concordia campus is a wonderful example of the exciting variety of blooms, blossoms, greenery, and landscaping that can be achieved here. It's such a treat to walk around campus and observe the many plants, lovingly tended by our grounds crew, all wildly blooming and sweetly scented. Your eye strays from one blossom to another ...to the ivy-covered brick walls...what a great oak tree...look, there's a daffodil next to a...cigarette butt? …