August 1, 2020
This issue is HUGE, so I’ll keep my comments brief. Because of the theme of BODY, there is a lot of material in here that for some readers may be difficult to read or look at for any number of reasons. Rather than try to make decisions on each piece, we are adding a content warning for the entire issue.
CONTENT WARNING:
- Rape and Sexual Assault
- Abuse (physical, mental, emotional, verbal, sexual)
- Animal death
- Self-injurious behavior
- Suicide
- Violence, trauma, including murder
- War
- Death or dying/Aging
- Pregnancy/Childbirth
- Miscarriages/Abortion
- Physical illness
- Mental illness
- Nudity and sexual content
- Profanity
If you’re still reading, then I want to tell you that this issue is also filled with tenderness, hope, compassion, humor, survival, courage, friendship, family bonds, perseverance, possibility, miracles and love.
I’m so grateful to our contributors. If there is a subtext to the theme of BODY, it is BRAVERY. This extends to all those who submitted work that was not selected for this issue. To quote one of our contributors, Ayomide “Wes” Oriolowo: open your/mouth and let all the art drop from it then/you will find your body is a mosaic of/endless words.
And to quote my co-editor, Amanda McLeod, this issue is EPIC!
Beth Gordon
Managing Editor