From Across the IceMatthew Ferrell The icy vapors settle across the frost glazed grassThe icy vapors settle across the frost glazed grassShadows of death crawl through their frozen spikesShadows of death crawl through their frozen spikesShadows of death crawl through their frozen spikesThrough the shadow’s frost the vapor spikes crawlGlazed, frozen, the grass settles across their death

As the thin sheath shone still in the blackAs the thin sheath shone still in the blackThe swords of ice began to form cracksThe swords of ice began to form cracksSwords of black in sheath cracksSwords of black in sheath cracksShone as the thin ice still began to form

But just as the morning giant rises in the skyBut just as the morning giant rises in the skyThe scent of mist gone, and haze greeted me dearlyThe scent of mist gone, and haze greeted me dearlyBut the giant, the mist, and haze greeted the dearly But the giant, the mist, and haze greeted the dearly morning Just as the sky rises the scent in me

Cracks in sheath, and frozen in blackThe giant of the shadows began to crawlThrough death, haze, and frost Thin swords settle across meGreeted the rising morning mist as vapors shone justBut the icy grass scent had still gone.But the icy grass scent had still gone.

Free Verse Artwork by

Conner Pugh and Luke Kosusko

Heat WavesJackson Stitzer

Have you ever watchedthe tarmac midday?Followed the roadto the edge of yourvision?vision?There is a shimmerwhere the two worldsshould meet—the horizon—but instead, a battle rages:Sky and Earth, both fighting for control. There is chaosin transition. The air shakesin transition. The air shakesin protest, skewing theline ofreality.But the illusion is just as realas what was. Itis only our perceptions,our paradigms thatour paradigms thatshimmer like the air wewatch. Drastically, we changeour minds, ormaybe not.

Lesley Summerville and Sierra Buerkely

VillanelleMatt Midkiff

Discovery and struggle go hand in hand. Progress is always seemingly out of reach.But falling into lawlessness will always hang by a strand.

Empires grew wide in all that they spanned.Yet all will fall from woodland to beach.Yet all will fall from woodland to beach.Discovery and struggle go hand in hand. VillanelleDo not despair as all things grandWill be forever immortal through what we teach.But falling into lawlessness will always hang by a strand.

It is in our nature to war and betray for land.That doesn't belong to us though off this earth we leech.That doesn't belong to us though off this earth we leech.Discovery and struggle go hand in hand.

We are a disease that must be bannedTo be controlled lest we again break out into the breach.But falling into lawlessness will always hang by a strand.

Please listen before our world is reduced to nothing but a wasteland. What I say to you now is not but a theory a philosopher may preach.Discovery and struggle go hand in hand.Discovery and struggle go hand in hand.But falling into lawlessness will always hang by a strand.

Michael Couchman

Untitled Danny Carrillo

So much stressMuch more sleepToo much timeTime spent workingTime spent watching emotions break down wallsTime spent watching emotions break down wallsGigantic and powerful structures perfected over timeBut weakened during the 12 years they stoodShatteredCrumblingA poor excuse for protection

Wilson Olivera

UntitledTaylor Feary

We stand in the rain in a long line. The long black box I front of us holds a life taken too early.Black figures stand,Crowded in the rain,Crowded in the rain,Huddled under umbrellas and hidden behind veils.Tears concealed on pale white skin. A prayer is said and the crying continues.Death happened far too quickly for the little girlThat stood in line for her motherJust a few years before.

Robert King

Chasing your faithKelly Kerkeslager

The orange clouds float over the setting sky as I waitedfor you to come. I sat outside on the swinging wooden chairfor two. Wind comes in from the north and I finally seeyou swing the front of the familiar rusted auburn truck into the graveled driveway.truck into the graveled driveway.I smile as the first rain of spring started to fall around you.

Jesse Giammarino