DigitalCommons@C.O.D.

The Prairie Light Review
Volume 39 | Number 1 Article 4
Fall 12-1-2016
letter from the editor
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inclusion in The Prairie Light Review by an authorized editor of DigitalCommons@COD. For more information, please contact koteles@cod.edu.
Recommended Citation
(2016) "letter from the editor," The Prairie Light Review: Vol. 39 : No. 1 , Article 4.
Available at: http://dc.cod.edu/plr/vol39/iss1/4
Letter from the editor
Shailesh Patel
Editor-in-Chief
Shailesh Patel
Typically in this space I would tell you, the reader, how fun it was in my first 
semester as EIC. Or use this space to thank my fellow editors, the intelligent and 
hard working brains behind the publication that rests in your hand. I could take 
this space and baffle you with my words, just to justify my position as EIC with 
writing made to impress. Usually in this letter, I could talk about myself, the 
programmer who found a passion on writing and stuck with it. The former ESL 
student that hated writing and everything to do with it. The same one that hated 
almost every English teacher. The some one that never could figure out when 
to use a comma, or a colon or the right their or there. But I kept writing for the 
same reason I code, because there are no limits to my imagination. I could code 
to create anything, and I could write to create anything. Writing became quite 
enjoyable as long as I didn’t have a minimum word count to hit, or a certain 
page length to achieve. For those of you who write as they please, I applaud you, 
for those of you who don’t, try it—your English teachers aren’t around forev-
er. The writing you create is your own perfect, doesn’t truly matter if anyone 
considers it imperfect. Strive for that imperfect perfect and make the unusual, 
usual. As an amateur writer I could give you advice on how to write, but that 
would be no fun, here’s a poem: 
 
I didn’t understand something when I was little 
The laws of writing are very brittle 
The rules in English class aren’t permanent  
Moreover what you write is more pertinent  
They aren’t rules but more of a suggestion  
Because all you truly need is: 
A blank paper , a pen, a brain  
and the knowledge that you write for no one but yourself. 
 
On that blank piece of paper create your own universe 
Between every line a brand new different world  
Let every line be a masterpiece 
Every word a brand new symphony  
Create, build, destroy  
because in that universe 
You are the greatest to have ever written  
 
If you think this is good, what’s inside is even better, and if you don’t, it only gets 
better from here. Enjoy. 
 3  Fall 2016
1
et al.: letter from the editor
Published by DigitalCommons@COD, 2016


English

letter from the editor

Ziemer, Raymond

The Prairie Light Review
Volume 39 | Number 1 Article 32
Fall 12-1-2016
SOUTHBOUND IN THE FAST LANE
Raymond Ziemer
College of DuPage
Follow this and additional works at: http://dc.cod.edu/plr
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 koteles@cod.edu.
Recommended Citation
Ziemer, Raymond (2016) "SOUTHBOUND IN THE FAST LANE," The Prairie Light Review: Vol. 39 : No. 1 , Article 32.
Available at: http://dc.cod.edu/plr/vol39/iss1/32
SOUTHBOUND IN THE FAST LANE 
Some character cut me off on the interstate last night. 
This Kia nearly clipped my fender and 
Sent me swerving into the slow lanes, 
Slaloming through the rush-hour rapids, 
Barely missing a minivan, 
As I spun out, 
Skidded to a stop, 
and stalled on the shoulder 
Shaken 
and 
Stirred 
to Vengeance. 
Trembling mad I turned the engine over, 
And leaped back into the roaring torrent, 
Pedal floored 
and tore along 
racing through the stream in a blinded rage. 
I caught up to the Kia at the top of an exit ramp, 
Leaped out and dashed to the car, 
tore wide the door, and 
Dragged the driver out onto the pavement 
Pummeling his stupid face 
Oh yes 
I thrashed his sorry carcass 
Until he squealed apologies 
And swore he’d be a better person. 
  
At least that’s how I imagined it. 
Raymond Ziemer
24  Prairie Light Review
1
Ziemer: SOUTHBOUND IN THE FAST LANE
Published by DigitalCommons@COD, 2016


SOUTHBOUND IN THE FAST LANE

Melara, Eunice

The Prairie Light Review
Volume 39 | Number 1 Article 38
Fall 12-1-2016
Untitled
Eunice Melara
College of DuPage
Follow this and additional works at: http://dc.cod.edu/plr
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 koteles@cod.edu.
Recommended Citation
Melara, Eunice (2016) "Untitled," The Prairie Light Review: Vol. 39 : No. 1 , Article 38.
Available at: http://dc.cod.edu/plr/vol39/iss1/38
The soul battles, 
longing for freedom 
from the horrors that bound it. 
Yet, the nightmare lingers; 
even as joy seems just within reach. 
  
Haunted by memories 
no child should know; 
scarred by hate and ugliness, 
held paralyzed by emotions, 
lost in the weight of the rain.   
No rainbow in sight. 
A once and future prisoner, 
captive to the promises made in love and 
duty. 
The nightmare scoffs at the loyalty, 
given freely to those which give not. 
  
Moments stolen by someone else’s power. 
A legacy persists that isn’t deserved; 
but hate remains not. 
For even just a glimmer of hate 
locks chains around the soul, 
hindering movement and purpose 
and denies the future its rightful 
place. 
  
A destiny of revelation 
shines the path with lightening ever 
bright. 
A journey of healing traverses, 
step by step, choice by choice. 
Only the thunderstorms of life offer 
comfort, 
serving as a reminder that good 
remains. 
  
Choice the weapon of need 
And words the teller of stories. 
Forgiveness is the key! 
Released into hope, 
an unknown freedom awaits. 
Shedding the nightmare of its power 
And the memory of its pain. 
“the nightmare” 
U
nt
itl
ed
Ch
ar
co
al
 D
ra
w
in
g 
by
 E
un
ic
e M
el
ar
a
Bonniejean Alford
 27  Fall 2016
1
Melara: Untitled
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Untitled

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2012 Manufacturing & Technology Expo_02

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2012 Manufacturing & Technology Expo_03

Golec, Gloria

The Prairie Light Review
Volume 38 | Number 2 Article 15
Spring 5-1-2016
St. Luke's
Gloria Golec
College of DuPage
Follow this and additional works at: http://dc.cod.edu/plr
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 administrator of DigitalCommons@COD. For more information, please contact koteles@cod.edu.
Recommended Citation
Golec, Gloria (2016) "St. Luke's," The Prairie Light Review: Vol. 38: No. 2, Article 15.
Available at: http://dc.cod.edu/plr/vol38/iss2/15
I drive past the hospital every morning 
on my way to work. 
Like rows of rectangular eyeglasses, the rust red bricks of old St. Luke’s gaze at the sleepy 
drivers on the Ike 
and I always slow down to take a longer look. 
 
It was here I had my tonsils out at age 5 and when you said goodbye to me and mom, I 
cried.  She and I looked out the window, at the parking lot, and saw you walking to the car.  
Then you turned and spotted us and waved.  
 
It is 45 years later and you have been gone for 10.  Your life was hard with years of factory 
work, then sickness and a wheelchair.  
 
But when I drive past St. Luke’s, I forget this.  Instead I remember you that day when 
you were young and you looked up at me and waved.  Your love went up your arm and 
out your fingers and the trajectory went deep into my heart.   I slow down, I look and I 
remember.  The eyes of the building peer down at me as if they also remember that day 
when you were in the parking lot and I was in the window and there was an arc of love 
between us.  And then I drive on. 
St. Luke’s
Gloria Golec
Spring 2016
11 1
Golec: St. Luke's
Published by DigitalCommons@COD, 2015


St. Luke\u27s

A project that explores the modulation of light, shadow, and pattern. A mosaic tapestry of shadow. A light modulator. A space that captures the ephemeral, fleeting, poetic characteristics of daylight.
Student Design + Build Team:   Andrew Dunlop III Arlinda Haxhiu Michael Keslinke Jose A. Maldonado Drew Peterson Malak Saadeh Scott Sallmann 
Faculty and Staff:   Professor: Mark A. Pearson, AIA Construction Shop Supervisor: Mark Rose 
For more information about the project, visit our  Design Build 2016 website

Pearson, Mark A

Design + Build: College of DuPage Architecture Design + Build Studio, Summer 2016

https://dc.cod.edu/marcom-studentlife-events/1694/thumbnail.jp

Iceless Skating_05

https://dc.cod.edu/marcom-studentlife-events/1692/thumbnail.jp

Iceless Skating_03

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