February 28, 2015

NOMADIC EXISTENCE BY HELEN HILL
 

This issue is dedicated to the homeless, the hungry, and the people who feed them...

With Special Thanks to Eric Hill, Helen Hill and Robert Rivera, a team of NYC street photographers who have a passion for bringing social injustice out of the shadows and into the light.

Special Thanks to Allen Forrest for the use of his paintings from the Fairtrade Coffee Series.

~FEATURED CONTENT~
Click the links...  

POETRY






 (An unpublished poem written by my Great-Great Grandmother in 1921)

CREATIVE NONFICTION/ESSAYS




FICTION




PHOTOGRAPHY


DB Cox is a blues musician/writer from South Carolina. His poems and short stories have been published extensively in the small press, in the US, and abroad.  His first collection of short stories called “Unaccustomed Mercy,” published by Studio Books, is available at the Amazon Kindle Store. To hear the poem set to music scroll to the end.



 
Born and raised in India. Worked in Middle East and London. Daughter, wife and sister, aspiring to be known in the space of poetry as someone who weaves magic into language and combines unique design and strong color to her work of art.  

In this issue: Oneiric Alms
 






Sheehan served with 31st Infantry, Korea 1951 and graduated from Boston College, 1956. Poetry books include Ah, Devon Unbowed; The Saugus Book; Reflections from Vinegar Hill; and This Rare Earth & Other Flights. Korean Echoes nominated for Distinguished Military Award and The Westering, 2012, nominated  National Book Award, and 26 Pushcart nominations.




A Voice Touching (appeared in The Cenacle, 2011)
Remnants (an earlier version appeared in River Poets Journal, 2009)
A Spirit Not yet Home (an earlier version appeared in my collection, Ah, Devon Unbowed, 1978

 

A Voice Touching



A drunk startles me
from a doorway.

Prerna Bakshi is a sociolinguist, research scholar and writer of Indian origin, currently based in Macao.  She has contributed essays and articles to a variety of publications including The Hindu, CounterCurrents, Amar Ujala, and Desh Bandhu to name a few.  Her poetry has been published in peer reviewed journals such as Muse India and is forthcoming in several publications.  






Eric Hill, born in Washington DC, was first photographed among the cherry blossoms. This, no doubt, forms the basis for his colorful politics and a life long pursuit of cherry pie. That his Grandfather was a minister, no doubt explains, his intense desire to find another way to God than Religion. His writing comes from his profound need to get this crazy stuff out of his head.

He has published with Black Wire,  Indiana Voice Journal, Rain/Disaster/Party, Ijagun Poetry Journal and Behhutet.
His photography can be found throughout this issue of IVJ.


Lydia Fenwick Patterson
Lydia Fenwick Patterson 1872-1944 wrote poetry. Her writings were found in a suitcase in an attic by family members. The pages were fashioned together as scrolls using loose leaf papers and straight pins. I am publishing her poem written in 1921, and never before published until today, because it still rings true. It is relevant. The entangled arms of poverty and oppression do not discriminate, and within that grasp are people from every walk of life. I read this poem and immediately thought of Wall Street while viewing pictures of humanity sleeping on the sidewalks and in the shadows of our great cities.  Lydia was my great-great-great grandmother, and as I transcribe some of her poetry that was destined for the trash bin, the questions arise...How many other startling or important voices of our past have been lost, thrown out with the trash, dismissed as ravings, left undiscovered in attics and basements? What a pleasure to learn my grandmother wrote poetry, and to hear her speak from the grave on a topic I am so passionate about! I left this poem as I found it... In her words, and completely unedited.~Janine Pickett  


©Allen Forrest

Raymond Greiner's writings include short stories and essays published frequently in various literary journals and magazines:  Branches magazine, La Joie Journal, Literary Yard Journal, Nib Magazine, Canary Literary Journal, Bellesprit Magazine, Freedom Journal, Grace Notes Literary Magazine. His book, a collection of fiction and nonfiction essays titled Hinterland Journal was recently published by Outskirts Press. Raymond lives in a remote area of southern Indiana in a cabin far off a lightly traveled road with his two dogs Orion and Venus. He is a frequent contributor to Indiana Voice Journal.

Sheehan served with 31st Infantry, Korea 1951 and graduated from Boston College, 1956. Poetry books include Ah, Devon Unbowed; The Saugus Book; Reflections from Vinegar Hill; and This Rare Earth & Other Flights. Korean Echoes nominated for Distinguished Military Award and The Westering, 2012, nominated  National Book Award, and 26 Pushcart nominations.


 Nancy Lane lives in Portland, Oregon and frequently participates in a women’s writing group, “Tuesday Morning Writers.” Nancy writes short fiction and essays, focusing on good people and positive themes. 

Another story written by Nancy, "Tales Of Meander" appears in the February 2015 issue of IVJ.


 

As the Crows Fly

“Miss, Miss,” I turned to see if somebody was addressing me. An old man waved his hand as he looked my way.

DB Cox is a blues musician/writer from South Carolina. His poems and short stories have been published extensively in the small press, in the US, and abroad.  His first collection of short stories called “Unaccustomed Mercy,” published by Studio Books, is available at the Amazon Kindle Store.

His poetry is also featured in this issue of IVJ.


Obtaining Mercy

Arthur Nagel is an ugly, little man. He stands barely four feet tall, and his head

is much too big for his body. The muscles on the left side of his face are totally

James Lawless, a north American English teacher, is a former coeditor of an underground college newspaper, a history graduate from a foreign university and a published author. He's currently living near Milan Italy.

 

Wheel of Life 

 
     It’s early morning. We’re in bed. The room is dark and the house is cold. My wife begins to stir beneath the flannel sheets. “Please don’t take your body heater away,” I say while burying my sleepy head in the pillow.

MacHDD:Users:helenhill:Desktop:Helen Hill.jpg
"It's all about the Beauty of Light...I still prefer working with the Imperfections of Film." ~Helen Hill

Helen Hill is a street photographer living in NYC. Her work is featured below, and can be seen in the following publications: 
Feb 2012: Group Exhibition Huesca Spain featuring 111 Photographers from around the World visually Interpreting the Literary texts of Ramon J Sender’s book ‘Memorias Biestas’ to mark his 111th anniversary of his birth.
Aug 2012: Featured in Erik Kim’s Street Photography Blog / Ms Helen Hill: Mise –en-scene

 Jan 2013:  Featured in ‘Leica Myself’ Book
March 2014:  Featured in ‘Buffalo Almanack’ Magazine

Robert Rivera lives in the Bronx, writes poetry, and captures life on the streets as it happens.

"When I was young I held a gun and thought: I can point and shoot to kill. But then I held a camera, and thought: Hell yeah! I can point and shoot to thrill. My mother birthed and raised me where hip hop was born. I finished high school and it pays well. Then I went to college and "i" pay well. ....Hahaha. 
When it comes to shooting, I aim to wow myself before I wow anyone else. I enjoy shooting different themes. People have different tastes and to vary in subjects keeps me open minded and creative" Photographs were taken with an iPod5. ~Robert Rivera

You can see more of his work at the following link:  https://instagram.com/boogieblam/




Eric Hill, born in Washington DC, was first photographed among the cherry blossoms. This, no doubt, forms the basis for his colorful politics and a life long pursuit of cherry pie. That his Grandfather was a minister, no doubt explains, his intense desire to find another way to God than Religion. His writing comes from his profound need to get this crazy stuff out of his head.

He has published with Black Wire,  Indiana Voice Journal, Rain/Disaster/Party, Ijagun Poetry Journal and Behhutet.


Eric is also a street photographer in New York City.  Featured here are some of his photographs.


To see more of Eric's work:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/erichill418/


February 1, 2015



The Presence


I’ve fought for the causes
And I’ve laid with death
In the shadow of no reason
But always around me
Was the presence of the Galilean

Witty Fay is a translator by trade and a humanist by nature. She has been writing herself into her poems for some time into the virtual world at www.iexile.com, www.allpoetry.com, www.scriggler.com, www.destinypoets.co.uk, www.writerscafe.org www.poetrysoup.com and www.versewrights.com . Also, she proudly had her first bilingual volume of poetry, Nefelibata  (Brian Brixon Books, 2014), published and she is aiming at unraveling prose. 

Nick Hopkins is a professor of English, holding an M.F.A. in Writing from Lindenwood University. He is also an accomplished songwriter, whose work has been featured in numerous television shows, such as America's Next Top Model and The Real World. His non-musical writing has appeared in publications like Foliate Oak Literary Magazine, The MacGuffin, and Punchnel's. He resides in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with his more-talented wife and couldn’t-care-less cat.



Ain’t No Sinners
   
On the seventh day, we rested.
Cold pew or warm bed?



Nels Hanson has worked as a farmer, teacher and contract writer/editor. Poems have appeared in Word Riot, Oklahoma Review, Pacific Review and other magazines, and are in press at Squalorly, Sediments, Blotterature, Digital Papercuts, and Straight Forward Poetry. Poems in Outside In Literary & Travel Magazine and Citron Review were nominated for 2014 Pushcart Prizes and poems in the Sharkpack Review Annual were awarded its Prospero Prize.

 3 Poems:  Sky Pilot-The Miracle-The Friends



In addition to writing fiction and poetry, Belinda Hubert is currently working on a novel, titled Shrink Wrapped and a collection of short stories about life in the Midwest. She works as a clinical psychologist in a private practice in Lowell, Indiana.
http://buelasprairiepractice.blogspot.com/

2 Poems:  Taking It, End of Autumn

Sasha Kasoff is a published poet, fantasy writer, and aspiring teacher. Having recently returned from studying abroad in Ireland, she is currently attending University of the Pacific earning her BA in English with plans to continue her studies in creative writing as a graduate next year. Her poetry can be found in two self-published books as well as in anthologies, magazines, and other literary presses. Look for her on Goodreads.

3 Poems:  Addiction, Lonesome Morning, Love Is  

Ross Knapp is a recent college graduate with degrees in philosophy and literature. He has an experimental literary novel forthcoming and various poetry publications in Blue Lake Review, Poetry Pacific Magazine, Burningword Literary Journal, Belle Reve Literary Journal, Carcinogenic Poetry, Blood and Thunder Literary Magazine, Tipsy Lit Literary Magazine, and Clockwise Cat Literary Magazine. 

He lives and works in Minneapolis.
3 Poems: We Venetian Heathen Lovers, A Room Of One's Own, Waiting


Mel Waldman, Ph. D.





Dr. Mel Waldman is a psychologist, poet, and writer. He is a past winner of the literary GRADIVA AWARD in Psychoanalysis and was nominated for a PUSHCART PRIZE in literature. He is the author of 11 books.



BACK IN OGUNQUIT


I imagine I’m back in Ogunquit with my wife in the late summer of 2011. We often returned to the Beautiful Place by the Sea in July or August and stayed at the Seafarer’s Motel, across from the Ogunquit Playhouse, on the other side of Main Street. 

 
George Zamalea's credits include articles, short stories, novels and books review online. He was awarded the first place from the 2011 International Latino Book Awards in the category of Best Spiritual / New Age book in English with the Six Seasonal Amendments, A Hispanic Inspiration.  He is a member of The American Society of Journalists.

6 Short Poems:  The Spiritual People Useless Taken, Exclude It Out, Relentless Fall, The Black Magic, Life, The Flowers






Raymond Greiner's writings include short stories and essays published frequently in various literary journals and magazines:  Branches magazine, La Joie Journal, Literary Yard Journal, Nib Magazine, Canary Literary Journal, Bellesprit Magazine, Freedom Journal, Grace Notes Literary Magazine. His book, a collection of fiction and nonfiction essays titled Hinterland Journal was recently published by Outskirts Press. Raymond lives in a remote area of southern Indiana in a cabin far off a lightly traveled road with his two dogs Orion and Venus. He is a frequent contributor to Indiana Voice Journal.



The Grace of Companionship

    Companionship defines life.  Instinctive thought is of long-term, human partnerships, sharing each day, approaching the bond as a single unit, yet interacting in dual servitude toward shared goals.  Frequently such arrangements lack balance, but when in sync it’s the best of the best.

Madge Kaplan, Director of Communications, Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), is responsible for developing new and innovative means for IHI to communicate the stories, leading examples of change, and policy implications emerging from the world of quality improvement in health care. Madge is also the host and producer of IHI's online audio "talk show" called WIHI, a program she conceived of and founded in 2009.  Madge came to IHI after a 20-year career in broadcast journalism for public radio. She began exploring non-fiction and playwriting more than a decade ago. Many of her essays have aired on radio or been published in print.  Her first play, The Last Appointment, was produced on Martha’s Vineyard in October 2011. 

Liz Gilmore Williams is a retired writer and editor with more than 20 years' experience in the private and public sectors. Most of her work was done for two agencies of the U.S. Congress. She asks that we please don't hold that against her.

This essay, "April Love" won an honorable mention award in the Summer Shorts contest held by the Virginia Writers Club in 2014.

David Dominé lives in Louisville, Kentucky and teaches at Indiana University Southeast. In addition to an MFA in Writing from Spalding University, he has an MA in Spanish Literature from the University of Louisville and an MA in German Literature from the University of California at Santa Barbara. He also completed studies in literary translation at the Karl-Franzens Universität in Graz, Austria.  He is also co-founder and regular contributor to the blog Literary Labors (And the Occasional Cheese Dip). Find out more at his website at daviddomine.com/





Dan Fields is a musician and film critic based in Houston, Texas. You can view his current and archived work at
http://www.fieldspointreview.com


  
His story "Cachette" is featured here.



Nels Hanson has worked as a farmer, teacher and contract writer/editor. His fiction received the San Francisco Foundation’s James D. Phelan Award and Pushcart Prize nominations in 2010, 12, and 2014. Stories have appeared in Antioch Review, Black Warrior Review, Southeast Review and other journals. Three of his poems are featured in this issue of IVJ.





In addition to writing fiction and poetry, Dr. Belinda Hubert is currently working on getting her novel Shrink Wrapped published while writing a second novel, Crackers, as well as a collection of poems and short stories about life in the Midwest..She works as a clinical psychologist in a private practice in Lowell, Indiana.
http://buelasprairiepractice.blogspot.com/



Nancy Lane lives in Portland, Oregon and frequently participates in a women’s writing group, “Tuesday Morning Writers.” Nancy writes short fiction and essays, focusing on good people and positive themes.
 
What I Really Know About Patriotism, published in the AARP Bulletin, May 2011 (http://www.aarp.org/personal-growth/life-stories/info-05-2011/boomers-and-patriotism.html)


Tales of Meander, posted at Creative Christian Writers (http://www.christiancreativewriters.com/forum), winner of the Joshua Fund Short Story Contest (June 2012) As the Crows Fly, posted at Creative Christian Writers (see above), winner of the 19th Short Story Contest (January 2014)

 Adam Matson is originally a native of Acton, MA, and he now resides in Malibu, CA. His short stories have been published in The Berkeley Fiction Review, The Broadkill Review, Happy Magazine, and The Cynic Online Magazine. He has also published a collection of short stories called Sometimes Things Go Horribly Wrong (Outskirts Press).



Bradley Sides holds an M.A. in English. His fiction appears in numerous print and online journals. He is a staff writer for Bookkaholic. He resides in Florence, Alabama, with his wife, and he is working on his debut novel.


 Achieved Dreams




 David J. Thompson's photos have appeared in a number of journals both in print and on-line. He lived in Detroit from 1997 until last October. He has been traveling since then.  

Please visit his website at ninemilephoto.com.



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