DigitalCommons@C.O.D.

Janas, Karen

The Prairie Light Review 
Volume 47 
Number 1 Spring 2025 Article 71 
Spring 5-1-2025 
To Chicago 
Karen Janas 
College of DuPage 
Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.cod.edu/plr 
Recommended Citation 
Janas, Karen (2025) "To Chicago," The Prairie Light Review: Vol. 47: No. 1, Article 71. 
Available at: https://dc.cod.edu/plr/vol47/iss1/71 
This Artwork is brought to you for free and open access by the College Publications at DigitalCommons@COD. It 
has been accepted for inclusion in The Prairie Light Review by an authorized editor of DigitalCommons@COD. For 
more information, please contact orenick@cod.edu. 
1
Janas: To Chicago
Published by DigitalCommons@COD, 2025


To Chicago

The Prairie Light Review 
Volume 47 
Number 1 Spring 2025 Article 3 
Spring 5-1-2025 
About 
Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.cod.edu/plr 
Recommended Citation 
(2025) "About," The Prairie Light Review: Vol. 47: No. 1, Article 3. 
Available at: https://dc.cod.edu/plr/vol47/iss1/3 
This Prefatory Note is brought to you for free and open access by the College Publications at 
DigitalCommons@COD. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Prairie Light Review by an authorized editor of 
DigitalCommons@COD. For more information, please contact orenick@cod.edu. 
Rolling Submissions
The Prairie Light Review accepts submissions throughout the year. 
We review pieces in the following categories: original fiction, cre-
ative nonfiction, drama, poetry, graphic essays, black and
white/color photography, jewelry, fashion, ceramics, and 2D/3D 
artwork of  any medium.
Visit COD’s website for complete guidelines: https://www.cod.edu/
student-life/publications/prairie-light-review/. 
When ready, please submit up to four pieces of  work to:
prairielightreviewsubmissions@gmail.com
Scholarship Info
The Budilovsky Literary Scholarship provides one $500 award per
semester in conjunction with the best writing published in 
Prairie Light Review. To be considered for this award, the entrant 
must remain a for-credit student at COD the following semester and 
have written a quality piece of  any type (i.e., essay, poem, short sto-
ry, etc.). Preference will be made to pieces that are autobiographical 
in nature.
More at:
@cod_plr
prairielightreview.com
https://www.cod.edu/student-life/publications/prairie-light-review/
About
Prairie Light Review is the student-run art and literary journal of  
the College of  DuPage. This biannual publication seeks to showcase 
the diverse work produced by creative individuals surrounding us. 
Ourpublication exists entirely because of  our loyal community, as we 
only accept submissions from District 502 and College of  DuPage 
students, staff, faculty, and alumni. Each piece submitted is evaluated 
anonymously by student editors in order to ensure objectivity. Stu-
dent editors work through acquisitions, editing, design, and market-
ing processes to produce the literary journal. 
Join
To join our editorial team, enroll in English 2210 for the upcoming
semester!
Direct additional inquiries to:
Dr. Trina Sotirakopulos, Faculty Advisor
sotirakopulost@cod.edu
2 31
et al.: About
Published by DigitalCommons@COD, 2025


About

Bell, Kathryn

The Prairie Light Review 
Volume 47 
Number 1 Spring 2025 Article 25 
Spring 5-1-2025 
Would You Care to Know Me? 
Kathryn Bell 
College of DuPage 
Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.cod.edu/plr 
Recommended Citation 
Bell, Kathryn (2025) "Would You Care to Know Me?," The Prairie Light Review: Vol. 47: No. 1, Article 25. 
Available at: https://dc.cod.edu/plr/vol47/iss1/25 
This Selection is brought to you for free and open access by the College Publications at DigitalCommons@COD. It 
has been accepted for inclusion in The Prairie Light Review by an authorized editor of DigitalCommons@COD. For 
more information, please contact orenick@cod.edu. 
Ruth
Estefani Karasek
Photography
24
Would You Care to Know Me?
If I were an honest woman, 
I’d tell you the story 
Of how these scars were woven 
 I’d beg you not to leave, 
“Just stay another song, 
    You remind me of a lyric,” 
Ever flowing, 
Gone to say goodbye- 
                           And I shall see you in a while.
Kathryn Bell
251
Bell: Would You Care to Know Me?
Published by DigitalCommons@COD, 2025


Would You Care to Know Me?

Clanton, Samantha

The Prairie Light Review 
Volume 47 
Number 1 Spring 2025 Article 60 
Spring 5-1-2025 
Michigan Avenue Musicians 
Samantha Clanton 
College of DuPage 
Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.cod.edu/plr 
Recommended Citation 
Clanton, Samantha (2025) "Michigan Avenue Musicians," The Prairie Light Review: Vol. 47: No. 1, Article 
60. 
Available at: https://dc.cod.edu/plr/vol47/iss1/60 
This Artwork is brought to you for free and open access by the College Publications at DigitalCommons@COD. It 
has been accepted for inclusion in The Prairie Light Review by an authorized editor of DigitalCommons@COD. For 
more information, please contact orenick@cod.edu. 
Why me? In dead of  night
I’m called out to his home.
He grins, babbles, twitches,
seems about to foam.
He’s listening almost over
a loose and creaking board.
Has he killed anyone—
this pacing, posing land-lord?
     Thud-thud-thud
He’s moaning and groaning,
might’ve lost a screw.
Don’t try crimes if  you’re nuts—
this I can tell you.
      Thud-thud-thud
Some perps aren’t too sharp,
I could write a tome.
Big hint: don’t bury the body
in your own home. 
*Apologies to Poe, and his “Tell-Tale Heart”
Mardelle Fortier
On the Beat: 
A Cop Tells His Tale
64
Michigan Avenue Musicians
Samantha Clanton
Digital Photography
651
Clanton: Michigan Avenue Musicians
Published by DigitalCommons@COD, 2025


Michigan Avenue Musicians

Washington, Maya

The Prairie Light Review 
Volume 47 
Number 1 Spring 2025 Article 66 
Spring 5-1-2025 
Universe 
Maya Washington 
College of DuPage 
Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.cod.edu/plr 
Recommended Citation 
Washington, Maya (2025) "Universe," The Prairie Light Review: Vol. 47: No. 1, Article 66. 
Available at: https://dc.cod.edu/plr/vol47/iss1/66 
This Selection is brought to you for free and open access by the College Publications at DigitalCommons@COD. It 
has been accepted for inclusion in The Prairie Light Review by an authorized editor of DigitalCommons@COD. For 
more information, please contact orenick@cod.edu. 
I’ve known it for years, this feeling.
This, untouchable, unreachable, unfailable, feeling.
Best friends, yet there was always more.
Feeling drowned under smiles and laughs he expended,
leaving my insides all bent and twisted.
My heart, a maze.
Its walls twist and bend, its exit a mere haze.
I wish for answers, a hint, anything really.
But the more I search, the more I hate, anything but reality.
Damned if  I tell, Damned if  I don’t.
It's unfair really.
Damned if  I do, so I won’t.
So, I keep it inside and love from afar.
Waiting, hoping to undo that feeling
I've always, and will always keep from you.
Unfair
Ivan Hayes
U
niverse
Planets align in the silence of  the night
Stars twinkle down on my lips
I can taste the atmosphere on his tongue
voices echo in the cosmic bays
forbidden kisses hidden in the milky ways
The whole world in the palm of  his hand
I wish to grab ahold
from center of  my heart
Solar systems turning
The universe reversing
Our laughter expansive and bold
In its gravity our secret story is told
We orbit as one
a dance of  the spheres
tip toe around each other
through the passing years
destiny's pull keeps us circling in space
In big smiles and sweet hugs
we've found our place
In the quiet of  space
the truth silently whispers
Bound by shared secrets
dreams we confide
Yet in others arms
we must pretend to hide.
Two spirits soul bound
under skies so bright
paint the trees
To match their wind
to move in the same speed
as much as
brown and blue eyes create a view
Some things fate will tell you
can never be true
our glances weave a tale untold,
A connection so deep
it breaks the usual mold,
We dance around fate
hands nearly entwined,
In another life perhaps
our stars realigned 71
M
aya W
ashington
70 1
Washington: Universe
Published by DigitalCommons@COD, 2025


Universe

The Prairie Light Review 
Volume 47 
Number 1 Spring 2025 Article 72 
Spring 5-1-2025 
Gratitude 
Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.cod.edu/plr 
Recommended Citation 
(2025) "Gratitude," The Prairie Light Review: Vol. 47: No. 1, Article 72. 
Available at: https://dc.cod.edu/plr/vol47/iss1/72 
This Back Matter is brought to you for free and open access by the College Publications at DigitalCommons@COD. 
It has been accepted for inclusion in The Prairie Light Review by an authorized editor of DigitalCommons@COD. For 
more information, please contact orenick@cod.edu. 
Gratitude
The team at Prairie Light Review is grateful for the support of  Dr. Christine Ham-
mond, Dr. Lisa Stock, Dr. Jorge Nieto, Dean Robyn Schiffman, and Cathie Walker. 
The finished product of  this journal would have been impossible if  not for the un-
wavering support of  our faculty especially in English, Creative Writing, Humanities, 
and Art - as well as across all the divisions (and the Honors Program!). Thanks for 
continuing to encourage students to revise and submit their submissions. Much grat-
itude to Chuck Steele, Shannon Hernandez, Jelymar Mejia, Jacqueline Rangel, and 
the Office of  Student Life for their support and assistance. Thank you to Danielle 
Oakes and Anna Gillespie in the Media Lab. Thanks to the COD Library and Staff. 
Additional gratitude is due to the Budilovsky family. We are so grateful to the talented 
individuals at Alpha Graphics in Lisle for their patience and support in printing the 
journal.
Colophon
Twice a year, College of  DuPage invites COD students, faculty and staff, as well as 
the entirety of  District 502 to submit original literature and artwork for publication 
in the community liberal arts journal, Prairie Light Review. Students enrolled in En-
glish 2210 worked as editors to read and evaluate all submissions through a fair and 
anonymous system of  evaluation. The class was guided by our faculty advisor, Trina 
Sotirakopulos, who oversees class proceedings, leads hiring decisions of  class officers, 
and advises on creative and technical decisions of  all varieties.
Throughout the semester, our officers–Editor-in-Chief, Production Editor, and 
Marketing Editor– serve pertinent roles in ensuring the quality of  our publication. 
Our Marketing Editor plans the launch party and manages all of  our social media 
and community connections, ensuring that the public is aware of  submissions calls, 
opportunities, and upcoming events. The Production Editor creates the overall 
design of  the journal, deciding formatting, color scheme, piece placement, and other 
technical decisions. The Editor-in-Chief  supervises all operations of  the team, makes 
executive decisions on submissions, and advises Assistant Editors in their work. The 
entire editorial team is involved in every major decision from accepted works, layout, 
and copy editing to design. Final edits are approved by our entire team before the 
finished publication is sent to the printer.
Cover: 80 Pound Matte Paperstock
Design: Adobe Photoshop CC 2023 Adobe InDesign CC 2023.
Finance and Operation: the publication is funded through College of  DuPage’s Stu-
dent Life
Publishing: AlphaGraphics, Lisle, Illinois
Paperstock: 70 pound Matte Paperstock
Photography: All photography in this magazine is provided by residents of  District 
502
Typography: Baskerville Display PT and Gill Sans MT, available through Adobe & 
paid for by Student Life 761
et al.: Gratitude
Published by DigitalCommons@COD, 2025


Gratitude

A young couple struggles with an unwanted intruder.
Director: Corinna Rodriguez
Actors: Chrissy Graham; Jimmy Kalal
Stage Director: Ryan Cosill

Barrios, Breane

Scorpion

Setting: An unoccupied park at midday. Honking, people, and other city sounds can be heard in the background. Bianca and Timothy are walking towards the spot under the railroad bridge that goes over the park, where the rest of their small dance troupe is waiting.
Actors: Jamiya Haynes; Nicholas Washington; Matthew Sagols
Stage Directions: Hannah Grim

Lane, Kassie

Proper Stance

This project creates a visual representation of the culture, architecture, societies, and art in Jamestown and the Powhatan Tribes. Through detailed work, observers will be transported to 1607 and be able to understand the lives that these individuals led. Prepare to dive into the past- who knows what secrets are hidden in plain sight, ready to be uncovered.
Faculty Sponsor:  Professor John Pari

Meinkow, Mikhaila

The Culture Derived from Jamestown and the Powhatan Tribes

The fossilized remains of Tylosaurus, a gigantic marine predator from the time of the dinosaurs, were uncovered in the Late Cretaceous of South Dakota. Gross pathology was noted on the right fore-paddle. Investigation found considerable osteophyte growth on the appendicular surfaces of the right humerus, radius, and ulna, indicative of osteoarthritis, a chronic degenerative joint disease.
Faculty Sponsor: Professor Isabella Reye

College of DuPage

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