Thirteen
Dearest Readers,
Thanks for joining us once more to celebrate our thirteenth issue of Does It Have Pockets. Thirteen has always been one of my favorite numbers, despite its sometimes-unsavory reputation. As Pockets has grown, the lead time between when we accept pieces and curate issues becomes longer, and this is the first month where I think we, as a team, really got to sit back and be re-surprised by the pieces we’d placed together. We’re proud of this one and humbled by the continued trust of our contributors. That’s not a new feeling – we’re proud of each and every issue – but as we dance into our second year, we’re so grateful to have you along for the ride. We hope you’ll be surprised and delighted and heartbroken and breathed-into-anew, as well.
June Issue Highlights:
Fiction
Our June fiction offerings bring you the magnificent work of six writers.
“In the nest, you dream about a singing heart.” In this stunner of a piece from Pat Foran is a delicate braid of prose so carefully woven it will break you wide open.
Two flashes from Phebe Jewell explore contemporary moments with searing detail and gorgeous, spare exchanges: “Bridges symbolize connections between worlds, he tells them.”
“I’m going to Wyoming. I’ve never been here. Or there.” Karen Chaffee’s surreal fiction is cinematically layered, warmly welcoming us readers to a seat on the bus.
“Edna,” said the white-smocked technician, “you’ll be transformed.” Lisa K. Buchanan’s “Window Dressing” is a uniquely narrated, deliciously sinister, and wonderfully unnerving flash to read through your own childhood fingers.
“The building had been beautiful once.” Patricia Caspers’ “The Blue Victorian” is an exquisite lens on love, the kind we give one another and the kind we fight to allow for ourselves.
We’re thrilled to welcome Kat Meads back to the Pockets-verse with her brilliantly witty flash wherein we all watch in envy and terror as Sis drifts out to sea. She and the shore liners (and us, too) “never would she be the same.”
Poetry
We’re also joined by six incredible, uniquely voiced poets.
“…but I miss lamb stew: thin as water, clear as love.” Three urgently resplendent poems from Catherine Edmunds full of sound, scent, taste, and beauty.
“We revert to westernized boxes of place destiny / fixed time” Three pieces from NC poet Regina YC García fresh, salt-cured, sweet and musical.
The West hangs / from the mirror like a dirty rabbit’s foot.” Capturing Los Angeles’ singular energy, four brilliantly sharp, imagery-soaked, arresting pieces from Amy Raasch.
“My cigarette sheds dead galaxies / into the night” Serene and scenic, three intense, spare poems from Wilson R. M. Taylor.
“Can you tell me that I’m enough?” Two subtly hopeful, deftly immersive poems from Caitlin Upshall.
“The sky raced to empty all the rain it held at once.” Form and lyricism flawlessly melded in three striking poems from Anne Rankin.
CNF & Art
We round off our issue with two superb CNF pieces and a cheerful group of animal tondos.
Lorette C. Luzajic hosts our arts section this month with five bright, colorful, narrative tondos. These pieces, inspired by folklore, fables, and fairy tales, are a window into the wonderful work of an artist “driven by eclectic curiosity and by the joy of juxtaposition.”
“Such a sweet dilemma…” Warm as Debussy arabesque and bright as a Bach minuet, Ellen Notbohm’s “The Piano’s Choice” is not just the story of an instrument, but the myriad perspectives it can change.
“If you feel you’ve returned a lover by mistake, please contact your therapist at the first available opportunity.” A contract, a manual, a list, Elizabeth Burton’s zingingly poignant “How to Return a Relationship” is a how-to for all of us. With footnotes!
We hope you’ll enjoy reading our thirteenth issue as much as we adored its curation.
XO,
