Iowa Journal of Literary Studies

Lee, Jeung Hee

Jeung Hee Lee, ‘Woman in Studio,” charcoal on paper (25" x 15").
73



English

Woman in Studio

Grearson, Jessie C.

WOMEN IN CANDLE FLAME
Jessie C. Grearson
Shaped like a milkweed pod, or a canoe 
thin at the top, tapered in, in blue 
she’s golden, she’s see-through
the wick is a whole other woman 
a wicked stepmother 
who’s gotten what she deserves 
a crooked back 
a burning face 
a black braided body
This, all at the golden center
this small hot burr
glowing in the taller one’s skirts
She tries to keep her skirts down 
her arms sleek to her sides 
in a ring of hot wax she can’t step from 
that will never brim over.
123


Women in Candle Flame

Berger, Susan

Foreword, Iowa Journal of Literary Studies, no. 9.1

Newton, Michael

Grandfather

Erskine, Nanci

Nanci Erskine, “Baby Presence ” charcoal on paper (30" x 22").
46


Baby Presence

Carlson, Victoria

Interview with Ellen Goodman

Ellis, Patrick

Patrick Ellis, “Self Portrait,” oil on canvas (10" x 14"),
32


Self Portrait

Bensko, Rosemary

THE BIRD AQUARIUM
Rosemary Bensko, award winner
Pet shop light
bubbling behind glass,
that’s what it is,
where, in the clear water,
the unreal becomes
two birds, fish, panes
of impossible
glass. Grey birds
are looking through red fish
that surround their air.
Only still, 
it seems water’s all 
there is
and will drown them. 
Trembling slightly, 
they huddle 
back to front 
and clasp their swing.
It must be an illusion 
and really be two 
completely clear and 
perfectly lighted, 
uncannily placed 
containers with one 
inside of one, 
a secret depth that 
keeps alive, 
in the purple light 
where shadows swimming 
on grey birds tremble,
102
doubleness and 
questions about 
used up air and life 
confused with red fish. 
Through water, sound 
does not bring 
me the open- 
and-closed-beak fear of 
the birds inside. Some 
delicately
made pretty images 
live in cold blood.
And how little trust 
I have that once I leave them 
they will live.
103


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