by Hally Winters “Of the many circumstances in my life for which I feel gratitude, these friendships shine with a particular brightness. They make me look eagerly to the future, to imagine all the conversations to come.” — The Crying Book by Heather Cristle Trees experience time differently. We drove up to see the snow. I had not driven with Read More
Category: B-Sides
An Elephantine Christmas
by Oormila Vijayakrishnan Prahlad For Thomas Thorpe In your collection of Christmas cardsthe Peruvian nativity scene stands outnewborn hope cocooned in a cradlethe snow flecked peaks of the Andesrejoicing in the saviour’s birth. you show me the layered papyrusof an Egyptian Christmas cardwhere denizens gaze upon a stara prayer of hope and peaceupon their parted lips. then you look up Read More
The Pushcart Prize 2020 Nominations
With this week’s theme of “Endings,” we thought it appropriate to share our nominations for The Pushcart Prize 2020. For those unfamiliar, Pushcart Press produces a yearly anthology to showcase work from small book presses and little magazines. (Despite the pachyderm, we’re really a little fish, so you know.) Submissions for the anthology, however, must come from the online publication Read More
The Art of Self-Acceptance
by Rohan Sharma Because one believes in oneself, one doesn’t try to convince others. Because one is content with oneself, one doesn’t need others’ approval. Because one accepts oneself, the whole world accepts him or her.― Lao Tzu The twenty-three months I spent at PICC forced me to grow in many ways. Many of the lessons I learned came not Read More
Spider in the Storm
by Rohan Sharma If you have never reached rock bottom, you have never attended the school of greatness.― Matshona Dhliwayo Spending time in what is known as the “suicide wing” (back in the jail next door known as DC) was an altogether different experience. They only opened the door for five minutes every morning to converse with the psychiatrist, to Read More
Amazing Things Are Happening Here (Book Review)
Our mainland pachyderms recently ventured out to some islands, courtesy of Jacob M. Appel’s Amazing Things Are Happening Here (available through Black Lawrence Press and Amazon). And despite the irony in the title’s origin, we found Appel’s worlds eye-opening and, well, amazing. Familiar Places Most of Appel’s collection takes place on or near either Cormorant Island, Florida, or Creve Coeur Read More
From the Editor – 8/29/19
My dear people and pachyderms, this is Editor Andre N. Lepine. I write to say hello and thank you. Just over a year ago, we published Linda M. Crate’s sometimes ravens conquer wolves, the first work by someone other than me to appear on this site. To honor our first year as a broader publication, I would like to talk Read More
Best of the Net 2019 Nominations
Today we announce our Best of the Net 2019 Nominations. For those unfamiliar, Sundress Publications produces an annual Best of the Net Anthology to showcase online work. Submissions for the anthology, however, must come from the online publication that first shared the work online. In addition, for the 2019 anthology, the work must have appeared between July 1, 2018 and Read More
Odd list Odd house Odd me (Book Review)
Today the pachyderms travel to 19th-century Amherst, Massachusetts, in search of a quiet place to enjoy Elisabeth Horan‘s Odd list Odd house Odd me (now available from TwistiT Press). Taking Emily Dickinson for her muse, Horan spins poems that journey inward and across centuries to explore sensuality, nature, love, loss, yearning, and one’s mysterious self. Invoking the Muse You do not Read More
I Need a New Job
by Normand Lepine Editor’s Note: Today we have a range of holidays to celebrate. Rather than dance around the maypole, however, we’ve chosen to focus on the modern proletariat. See, many of us have day jobs, side gigs, or straight-up permanent positions. And on International Workers’ Day we stand in solidarity with all those who keep the world running. So Read More