Creative Writing Commons^™

Purple Heart, Marieann C. Raguso

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

"As a combat veteran, I received a purple heart after my MRAP, armored truck, was blown up by an improvised explosive device (IED). It made me reflect on those who have come before me, and I wondered, how many women have a Purple Heart? The answer was less than 100 women have a Purple Heart, according to the Military Order of the Purple Heart in 2017. Having a Purple Heart is still a cauldron of mixed feelings for me, and I felt the urge to write about it."

Two Pockets/Two Mindsets: Balancing Humility And Self-Confidence, Esther Hastings

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

No abstract provided.

Hysteria, Fidel E. Perez Pujols

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

"In my art, I like to capture moments where I feel an overwhelming amount of a particular emotion. Different shapes and colors allow me to express different ideas."

Don't Take My Mask, Nicholas Waguespack

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

"Featuring a traditional Mardi Gras mask, this Lino cut explores the societal pressure I feel to reveal and expose myself to the world and the comfort I feel in some ways by being hidden away. With today’s society so focused on content creation and posting, I find myself conflicted with the idea of exposing myself for notoriety online but also wanting to keep my life very much private."

Loss Of Sight, Iksita C. Nallapaneni

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

"This piece was created as I was exiting a very distressing time in my life. I had recently begun therapy and was using art to express myself. I had finally been experiencing clarity as opposed to the 'loss of sight' and clouded judgement, and painted this as a way to move past this stage in my life."

There's Fresh Water In Afghanistan, Marieann C. Raguso

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

"This piece outlines the reality of war and my experience as I saw it. Lives are always at risk of ending in the blink of an eye. The problem is not enough people are opening their eyes to see the world around them. We are trained to be brutal and dehumanize our enemies in the military, but what happens when the enemy is just like us?"

Koonja's Death From Neville's Perspective, Michelle L. Gorodisky

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

In Grace Cho's memoir Tastes Like War, she states that her brother, Neville, was the one who had found her mother when she died. This scene will take place under Neville’s point of view, because his thoughts about their family’s situation are not examined very thoroughly throughout the memoir. Considering Cho and Neville’s starkly contrasting opinions about their family experiences, I thought it would be interesting to try reading this scene from Neville’s perspective."

Awake 12:48 Am, Meghana S. Jagarlamudi

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

"'Awake 12:48 AM' was written during one of my sleepless nights. All of the memories from growing up as a second-generation South Asian kid came together to create a moment of self-realization about the pressure we face, not just beauty. When I first wrote it, the repetition of 'even if' showed my frustration of society telling us to find ourselves worthy even though it secretly favored another. Today, 'even if' has a different meaning to me; it should be a source of our determination despite any limits we face."

Flowers In The Snow, Rueida Ali

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

"This disoriented poem serves as a poetic memoir of the fiasco that was my first few months in college. While each stanza explores a different experience or feeling, there is a consistent delirious tone throughout the poem. I watched as all aspects of my health deteriorated and felt myself reach sheer madness. In each stanza, I explore the highlights of my first semester, visiting sacrifices I never imagined myself to make because of the failures that persisted in haunting me."

Blues Big Revenge, Fidel E. Perez Pujols

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

"In my art, I like to capture moments where I feel an overwhelming amount of a particular emotion. Different shapes and colors allow me to express different ideas."

Love Me, Elisha Mendoza

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

"Like my other poems, this piece was written on the spot. As for the inspiration and meaning behind my piece, I think a lot and feel strongly about love. I've never experienced romance or been in a relationship, so I tend to be in my head quite a bit and feel lonely from time to time. It makes me wonder whether or not I have a soulmate, and if that soulmate is myself. Self-love comes before loving another person, as they say."

I Think I'Ve Processed It But, Amber M. Hockaday

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

"I was sexually assaulted March 27th, 2021, around 3 am. I pretended like it was something I wanted, that maybe I wasn’t vocal enough in expressing that I didn’t want it, and maybe I acted like I enjoyed it, and that sent a mixed message. I didn’t want to tell anyone because I was afraid that I would be blamed. I had been in fight-or-flight mode for months without realizing it. I remember all the details of that night, but it no longer consumes me with overwhelming fear, it gets better, and this poem is proof of that."

Full Issue

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

No abstract provided.

A Doctors Visit, Italia P. Lewis

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

"My poem follows the story of a woman's doctor's visit. It is meant to convey what women face in going to the doctor, highlighting how women's health is often ignored or pushed off as a nonissue. The inspiration for this poem came from a women's health class I took last semester, in which we read different passages about the disparities women face while trying to get medical help. From being gaslighted, ignored, and shamed for being unhealthy, my poem is meant to highlight each and every one of those issues."

El Universo / The Universe, Cora J. Padilla Castillo

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

"In the universe you find things you want to see but at the same time you don’t. When in love you are vulnerable to the feelings that person can transmit to you. This poem is about a love wanting to be noticed for who they are. This individual wants the lover or person of interest to walk into their eyes and see their heart as well to feel their colors. In a way this individual struggles to be seen and prompts the question if they have seen them yet. Within the poem I wanted to also depict the value that …

Drowning, Nicholas J. Waguespack

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

"This screen print represents how when growing up I felt like I was growing a lot of the times, wading water trying to stay afloat. It is an experiment in enhancing a screen print with water color paints."

Leaving You, Julia Severance

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

"The short poem, 'Leaving you,' was inspired by a long-term, high school sweetheart break up. For most of the relationship, I complied to the wants and needs of my partner. However, I was growing farther and farther from who I really was and what I truly desire in life. Not only was my love taken advantage for, but I also completely lost myself trying to love a man who cannot even love himself. 'Leaving you' is not about losing my ex, but rather gaining back all the love I gave up when I left the relationship."

Grief, Edlyne Ogonyo

Healy Poetry Prize

No abstract provided.

Saga Vol.86 / 2022-23, Carly Davis, Blake Traylor

SAGA Art & Literary Magazine

No abstract provided.

Spring 2023, Valparaiso University

The Lighter, 1958-Last Year

No abstract provided.

Those Beneath, Dee Lancaster

Research Learning Experiences (RLEs)

The first chapter in a longer prose fiction project featuring a supernatural hike through Yellowstone National Park.

A Day At The Beach, Emily Keniston

Research Learning Experiences (RLEs)

A short story about the interconnected horrors of gender and true crime podcasts.

Ua12/2/2 Talisman: Surreal Issue No. 14, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

Spring 2023 Talisman:

• Broekema, Gabi. Surrealism
• Hunter, Leah. Surreal
• Cox, Samantha. Surrealism
• Plescia, Audrey. Horoscopes
• Booth, Pandora. Dreamscapes
• Ousley, Rachael. Body & Soul – Yoga, Susan Tutino
• Coles, Jack. Tool for the Future – Artificial Intelligence
• Sandlin, Ellie. Altered Minds – Drug Experimentation
• Neidlinger, Heather. Little Dipper
• White, Peyton. Pure Adrenaline – Rodeo, Skateboarding, Boxing, Rock Climbing
• Plescia, Audrey. The Hill is Haunted
• Richer, Cailyn. Threads of Expression – Fashion
• Jefferson, Reginald. Momentum
• Bruck, Lasikka. At Death’s Door – Yenni Gonzalez, Zoe Avery, Hannah Smith
• Meyers, Jeffrey. Voice in Movement – Theatre & Dance, National Dance Education Association
• Surreal Playlist

Heartlines Issue 1 (April 2023), Student Literary Magazine Creative Writing And Art

HeartLines

No abstract provided.

Out Of Sight, Rachel Blood

Healy Poetry Prize

No abstract provided.

Zephyr: The Twenty-Third Issue, Zephyr Faculty Advisor, Skyler Garcia, Faye Botelho, Aliyah Walker-Pasko, Paige-Marie Merrill, Madelyn Asher

Zephyr

This is the twenty-third issue of Zephyr, the University of New England's journal of creative expression. Since 2000, Zephyr has published original drawings, paintings, photography, prose, and verse created by current and former members of the University community. Zephyr's Editorial Board is made up exclusively of matriculating students.

00. Campus Poetry Walk 2023 Brochure & Map, Holy Cross Libraries

Campus Poetry Walk 2023

This brochure describes a poetry walk installed throughout the campus at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. It includes a map indicating the location, title and author of each poem along the route. A virtual version of the poetry walk can be found at crossworks.holycross.edu/poetry2023

03. End Of Semester, Alessandro Camarra

Campus Poetry Walk 2023

No abstract provided.

You Found Me (I Kept You), Alexandra M. Lens

be Still

This poem is about multiple people in my life who have mentored me and helped me grow up in a safe and loving environment. They taught me important values, skills, and life lessons that I will always carry with me. The older I become, the more grateful I am for them.

Vol. Lx, No. 2: Joel Oppenheimer The Ephus: Alpha Dog In The East Village, M.G. Stephens

The Hollins Critic

No abstract provided.