In Conversation

In Conversation, a literary arts journal, is now accepting general submissions.

Christy Prahl reviews YOU CAN STILL DROWN IN THE SHALLOWS by Devon Fulford

you can still drown in the shallows by Devon Fulford (Roadside Press) is available for pre-order now at magicaljeep.com From the epigraph of Devon Fulford’s gripping new collection, we know we’re in a place of wreckage. Where a bridge may break underneath us, and what we think we know refuses to behave politely. There’s an …

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Richard Modiano reviews The Things You Can’t Remember Become the Things You Can’t Forget by Lori Jakiela

The Things You Can’t Remember Become the Things You Can’t Forget by Lori Jakiela (Roadside Press) Lori Jakiela’s The Things You Can’t Remember Become the Things You Can’t Forget is subtitled “an object/memoir in verse,” but that description hardly captures the ambitious emotional and intellectual terrain this remarkable collection traverses. Beginning with a tarnished silver …

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andy by John Grochalski

andy andy says he’s seventy-seven years old but we all know that he’s at least a decade older than that when he comes in the library he does his roll call oh, judy is here and i see andrea too and there’s geri oh, and there’s mark if andy doesn’t see a staff member he’ll …

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“I Was Put Here To Unlock God” by Ted Jackins

“I Was Put Here To Unlock God” The girl with the saddest eyes You have ever seen Will hug you The day you leave, Tell you she loves you, Those same eyes Shrinkwrapped in tears, As she says “I’ll probably be here Forever.” Ted Jackins (They/Them) is a writer, musician and multidisciplinary artist from North …

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THE POLISH HAMMER POETRY CORNER: Art Appreciation by Karl Koweski

Art Appreciation A couple weekends ago, I had the opportunity to ride with the excitable crew of Rockin Robbie Billz, Maniacal Mike Matthews and Trevor up to Nashville for Galaxycon. I never miss the chance to show up for these pop culture conventions so long as I know Billy Zane isn’t going to be present. …

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Champagne Murder Devils by Dan Provost

Champagne Murder Devils For Michael Grover Champagne Murder Devils lie lazily, streaming the measures of evil with every sip of drunken haughtiness. Hidden mansions stand among the humid reeds, where they suck in their bulbous guts while dipping swollen feet in a five-million-dollar pool. Trying to impress twenty-one-year-old coke queens who came for the ride, …

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Babies from a Candy by Ryan Quinn Flanagan

Babies from a Candy I am sitting around listening to the blues with my wife. Both very drunk. When I tell her that something would be like taking babies from a candy. She pauses for a moment, then corrects me. “I thought I could let it go,” she smiles. “But I just can’t.” We both …

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This is not a drill by Jonathan S Baker

This is not a drill The building is on fire. We are choking on smoke. No way to the left, no way to the right, the executive suites are safe but down here in the budget rooms outlook not so good. 9-1-1 is selling your data. The extinguishers all have legally binding end user agreements. …

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snickerdoodles by John Grochalski

snickerdoodles geri sees the big fat president on tv and says she hates all white men then amy says to her well, why are you dating one? living with one, if you feel that way? geri sees the genocide in palestine and swears she’s going to move there to help save lives and alleviate her …

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Accounting 101 by Paul Ilechko

Accounting 101 We lived inside our weariness      shattered by the level of force required to drive a post into the ground      the ice having only now melted      it was our town our inheritance that spent decades expanding or contracting      until it finally settled until we accepted the settlement all around us cheerfulness and fences and …

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