Design/Photography Curation by Parker Sprout and Logan Myers
Cover photograph No Title, by Sergiy Barchuk
Copyedited and proofread by Anne Kelley Conklin
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Shape Still Warm
Volume 28 (2025-2026)
Editors
Meghan Maloney-Vinz (Executive), Jenn Sisko (Managing), Joni Tevis (Contributing, Creative Nonfiction), Jose Hernandez Diaz (Contributing, Poetry), Mike Alberti (Contributing, Fiction)
Associate Editor
Melissa Schultz
Assistant Editors
Elizabeth Carls
Kayla Knoll
Evie Zeruhn
With gratitude to the students of the Editorial Board
CONTENTS:
FICTION
Away, Behind, Ahead JONATHON ATKINSON
Debts ZEKE CALIGIURI
The Red Velvet SUSAN DeFREITAS
Fungirl SUQI KAREN SIMS
Eva DANA WINSMITH
POETRY
Postcard from the Central American town I grew up in before I learned how
to speak English STEVE CASTRO
Most Likely an imperative from a Confederate soldier’s descendant STEVE CASTRO
On the Eucalyptus Trail MICHAELA CHAIREZ
They Tried to Bury the Neighborhood TY CHAPMAN
My Middle Name Is Christian TY CHAPMAN
The Carrying Kind AMANDA CHIADO
Why Our Bathtub Sparkles CHRISTOPHER CITRO
Li Po took a driving test JOHNNY CORDOVA
rangai PUNEET DUTT
Monk at the Mall PUNEET DUTT
After I Kissed Her JACKLIN FARLEY
Jupiter Capitolinus RODNEY GOMEZ
This Is a Wall RODNEY GOMEZ
To the Woman at the Front Desk of the Americas Best Value Inn & Suites JAKE GRIGGS
Where Pine Needles Fall in a Green Snow L. A. JOHNSON
Asymmetry L. A. JOHNSON
the mushers’ daughter KATHLEEN KIMBALL-BAKER
your brother’s couch: 1977 KATHRYN KYSAR
Black Doll/Exhibit JENNIFER MARITZA McCAULEY
Relume JEY LEY
When I Consider My Shape and Size CECIL MORRIS
Invention BENJAMIN NIESPODZIANY
Dada BENJAMIN NIESPODZIANYI
I’m Happy Because My Daughter Is Sad DAVID O’CONNELL
Deceive the Silence JOSE OSEGUERA
Origin Story ALISON PELEGRIN
Unidentified flying object BRYAN D. PRICE
Red Pine AMY ROA
GentriFried Cumbia VIRGIL SUÁREZ
every year some god SUZANNE SWANSON
Departures DAVID THOREEN
POCHA MARISA TIRADO
Miami Trip MARISA TIRADO
Station JESSE WALLIS
Ecogodliness FELICIA ZAMORA
Always Incomplete FELICIA ZAMORA
yazoo-mississippi delta mychael zulauf
Customs LENA ZYCINSKY
Make Love Like There Is No War LENA ZYCINSKY
CREATIVE NON-FICTION
Wars and Small Wars KIMBERLY BLAESER
A Father and Son Speak about the Painting A Desperate Stand by
Charles M. Russell SEAN HILL
To Be Born in the Briar Patch SEAN HILL
Solastalgia JULI LASSELLE
Denizens of the Exit Ramp MARY JANE LaVIGNE
Mother WAYNE MOK
Transportation Fantasy ANNA MOLENAAR
INTERVIEW
An Interview with Chris Santiago KAYLA KNOLL
BOOK REVIEWS
Finding Love and Art in the Covid Narrative ROBYN EARHART
Revolution As Poetic Practice HALEE KIRKWOOD