Issue 04
poetry
“Risorius”
by Raymond Luczak
“Reverberation from a Dream” by Maggie Elliott
—a muscle that retracts the angle of the mouth
without involving the skin around the eyes—
Who knew that fakery had a muscle
all its own hidden in plain sight
of the face? It blends so well
into the scenery of a great smile
that you could be forgiven
for being so easily fooled
at parties where no one wants
to attend and yet must. Their eyes
turn into a mirage of interest
on the edge of glazing over
into a reflection showing nods
and eyelids wanting to shut down
the droning conversation. A little
pretension has never hurt anyone.
*
Raymond Luczak is the author and editor of 25 titles, including Once upon a Twin (Gallaudet University Press) and Compassion, Michigan (Modern History Press). An inaugural Zoeglossia Fellow, he lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Find him online at raymondluczak.com and on social media @deafwoof (plus @raymondsbooks on Facebook).
Maggie Elliott is a nature photographer based in northern New York. Her path as a photographer was solidified by an ache that began in childhood: to share the wonders she discovered in the microscopic landscapes of nature. Her art philosophy centers around bringing overlooked moments of life into focus. She is also a seasonal farm worker and has traveled around the United States volunteering through WWOOF.