Volume 31 Issue 2

Authors

Abstract

This issue of Nebo: A Literary Journal, published in Spring 2018, is particularly notable for an unusual numbering error—while the print version is Volume 36, Issue 2, the cover mistakenly reads "Volume 36, Number 32". This discrepancy further underscores the complexities of archiving Nebo's historical record, a challenge addressed throughout this archival project.

Editor Rebekah Lawler, in her farewell editorial preface, reflects on her three years at Arkansas Tech University, emphasizing the transformative power of literature and the unifying themes of nature and human nature. The issue’s theme, nature, was chosen to reflect Arkansas' identity as "The Natural State" and the interplay between the environment and human experience.

Key highlights include:

• "If I Were a Masochist" by Marion Deutsche Cohen, a powerful poem about self-denial and the role of personal suffering in art.

• "To Have and to Hold" by Jennifer Brinkley, a poem reflecting on love, loss, and permanence.

• "Blues on What It Means to Be a Man" by Brian Fanelli, a meditation on masculinity, grief, and emotional repression.

• "Dreaming of Gardening in January" by Brian Fanelli, a poem about hope, renewal, and the cycle of the seasons.

• "I Like the Sound of Your Voice" by Jenn Powers, a poem exploring longing and memory.

• "A Deathly Chill" by Phylis Warady, a chilling story of mystery, isolation, and an artist’s encounter with danger.

• "Reverence" by Raymond Wong, a poetic reflection on heritage and generational wisdom.

• "The Alchemist" by John Urban, a short story blending magical realism with human ambition.

• "Elegy for a Sister" by Thelma Zirkelbach, a deeply moving tribute to loss and familial bonds.

• "Tell Me What Part of the World is Breaking" by Michael Jackman, a poem questioning societal change and personal resilience.

This issue continues Nebo's tradition of diverse literary expression, blending themes of nature, human experience, and artistic identity.

Recommended Citation

(2025) "Volume 31 Issue 2," NEBO: A Literary Journal: Vol. 31: Iss. 2, Article 1.
Available at: https://orc.library.atu.edu/nebo/vol31/iss2/1