

Letter from the Editors: Spring 2021
Dear Reader, What do you think of when you think of a carnival? We think of county fairs in summer, melted ice cream, creepy clowns and abandoned amusement parks. We think of transience and running away to join the circus. … Continue reading Letter from the Editors: Spring 2021

by Belle McDonald Continue reading

What We Lost When We Lost Carnival
by Megan Rochlin This year, for the first time in over a century, there was no Carnival in Brazil. There was no Desfile de Campeones in Rio de Janeiro; the samba schools did not parade in reds and greens and … Continue reading What We Lost When We Lost Carnival

Love Letter to the Strawberry Queen
by Evelyn Kennedy Jaffe art by Havi Rojer Dear Strawberry Queen, The first time I met you I was about five years old. You towered above me on a beautiful plinth covered with vines, strawberries, and leaves, and you were … Continue reading Love Letter to the Strawberry Queen

One Promised Happy Day
by Emma Bernstein art by Belle McDonald Even if you’ve never been, even if you grew up in the claustrophobic crush of a city where no one knows their neighbors’ names, a corner of your memory is reserved just for … Continue reading One Promised Happy Day

The Act
by Jean Cambareri The metal bar squeezes hard against my chest Our thighs are touching The air is crisp A night in early May I should feel careless and free, like all the smiling faces below us Suddenly, the metal … Continue reading The Act

Freak Show
by Sophie Torres The Freak Show is just a large, red and white striped tent in the middle of… well, nowhere really. It’s discreet. No posters will appear in your city announcing its presence. In fact, you get the sense … Continue reading Freak Show

oceanside
by Havi Rojer she moves long, light fingers with careful motions and creates little circles on the beach. her nails are very short and the sand waits patiently to crawl beneath them. the sea whispers to us with the scent … Continue reading oceanside

Your body is a funhouse
by Sofia Paredes art by Belle McDonald Going to the carnival funhouse as a kid was fun. Seeing yourself stretched thin, wide, short, fat… You would point at your friends’ reflections and laugh at them until your stomach hurt. When … Continue reading Your body is a funhouse

An Eye Out for Ladybugs
by Quinn Theobald art by Belle McDonald As far as I can remember, there were three reasons why Gran called her garden a faerie garden. As for carrots, they were rain food and Saturday morning food. Those were Gran’s favorite … Continue reading An Eye Out for Ladybugs