by Amanda C. R. Clark with Sophia Du Val Halcyon Panacea hal·cy·on| ˈhalsēən | adjective denoting a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peacefulpan·a·ce·a| ˌpanəˈsēə | noun a solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases doing okay strange and hard time thinking of you hope cope with the current situation The above erasure poetry came to be by removing words from the email sent to … Continue reading Halcyon Panacea
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Being Wrong, Being Right, and Being a White Woman of Privilege
by Sara Whitestone In a small Virginia town I mistakenly make an illegal U-turn. A police officer immediately pulls me over. I immediately start crying. These are not crocodile tears; instead they flow from the mortification that I did something wrong and will have to (rightfully) face the consequences. And yet, there are no consequences. … Continue reading Being Wrong, Being Right, and Being a White Woman of Privilege
Landslide
by Sara Whitestone January 21 “Well, Mom, it’s been 14 days, and Zhi and I have no symptoms,” my daughter tells me over the phone. This is the first I hear of the coronavirus. Rachel met Zhi while he was finishing his masters degree in Chicago, but Zhi grew up in Yichang China. As they … Continue reading Landslide
Make it New: Crossing the Fence
by Liz Backstrom There ought to be behind the door of every happy, contented man someone standing with a hammer, continually reminding him with a tap that there are unhappy people. -Anton Chekhov About three years ago I went to church. It was shortly after the election of 2016. I didn't know it, but that … Continue reading Make it New: Crossing the Fence
Looking Back at Summer Reading
by Laura Bloxham
When I was in grade school I lived for summer reading programs at the local library. If I read so many books or so many pages, I could qualify for prizes. Usually the top prize was a ride through town on a fire engine. I qualified for that prize after the first month.
When I was in junior high school I looked forward to reading in bed all day, reading classics with big classic stickers on the spine. I read Crime and Punishment and Mansfield Park until my eyes were bleary. Then I’d put a sweatshirt over my nightgown to make myself presentable for supper with my family.
In my adult years I’ve had various summer reading plans. During my college summers, I read Faulkner novels. For ten years or so I read Dickens novels. Of course I read many other books as well.
Because most of…
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12.2, an Issue in Review
by Emily Hanson Every issue of Rock & Sling witnesses to a myriad of different ideas, feelings, and actions and each piece does so in a way that is specific to the individual writer. Issue 12.2 is no different than the rest in how it witnesses to a diverse set of ideas, but, what makes … Continue reading 12.2, an Issue in Review
Can You See Anything Now?
by Jessica Dundas The label “Christian Fiction” tends to turn me off. I expect another cleaned up, simplified version of life, where they always get their miracle and every sunset reminds us that God is good. Cheesy clichés, sub-par writing. But that is not at all what Katherine James has given us in her novel … Continue reading Can You See Anything Now?
Announcing a Guest Poetry Editor
I've been blessed to work with a stable lineup of genre editors since I took over as editor-in-chief of Rock & Sling in 2010. We've changed our font more times than we've changed editors. Both Laurie Lamon (poetry) and Julie Riddle (nonfiction) have been on board as long as I have. For the next two … Continue reading Announcing a Guest Poetry Editor
Vox II: Contributor Notes
by Margaret Rozga As a person who has long been active in social and racial justice movements, my goal as a poet is to create poetry written from a deep commitment to social justice issues. My books can serve as examples. 200 Nights and One Day is about the Milwaukee fair housing marches in which … Continue reading Vox II: Contributor Notes
Imprint
In the same way, if I spend so much energy and effort trying to create music or art or poetry that is meaningful, or beautiful, shot-through with light, grace, insight, and love, how can that not spill over into working for these things in the larger world?
Rock & Sling 