February was always a tough month when I grew up in Chicago. Waiting for the end of howling winds and blackened mounds of exhaust-steeped snow, trapped in layers of clothes, waiting for the siege of gray sky to flash some beam of light through the huddled shapes. A wood-burning stove, a pile of books, some music, a few animals scattered around and things are looking much brighter. Here is some February inspiration from Emily Dickinson and Foo Fighters: Emily Dickinson
The Snow that never drifts –
The transient, fragrant snow
That comes a single time a Year
Is softly driving now --
So thorough in the Tree
At night beneath the star
That it was February's Foot
Experience would swear --
Like Winter as a Face
We stern and former knew
Repaired of all but Loneliness
By Nature's Alibit --
Were every storm so spice
The Value could not be –
We buy with contrast – Pang is good
As near as memory --
February Star- Foo Fighters – Live in Vienna ‘97
This mid-February issue of Connotation Press is outstanding.
Len Kuntz is our featured fiction writer for the issue. He gives us four brilliant flash stories and find out more about Len and what he’s working on in our interview. And yes, his new collection, “The Dark Sunshine,” is published by Connotation Press and available for pre-order. Get a copy before we run out! Here is the link.
Nicholas B. Morris offers no relief from the intensity with his story, “Doppelganger,” from his recent chapbook, “The Boy in the Well,” out of Monkey Puzzle Press.
Miriam Sagan delivers three exceptional flash stories, “Narrative Fallacy,” “By the Power Vested in Me,” and “Yaddo.” Love hearing tales of Yaddo!
Kathleen O’Donnell draws a vivid depiction of a child who both frightens and mesmerizes in her short story, “She.” Unforgettable!
Gerald Arthur Winter delivers every kid’s dream in his exciting story, “Buried Treasures.”
Hope you stay warm and enjoy the heat palpating from these tales!