Richard Spilman
Richard Spilman was born and raised in Normal, Illinois, half a block from Main Street, in a house that backed onto Sugar Creek. He left years ago but still has the sense that Normal follows him everywhere.
The following work is Copyright © 2023, and owned by Richard Spilman and may not be distributed or reprinted in any form whatsoever without written permission from the author.
This Was the Night
This was the night
the floorboards sang,
the windows haloed
light, and goldfish swam
in our joined breath.
This was the night
that at high tide
drew us from bed
to beach, to the pull
and scent of home.
This was the night
that paled to shadows
at first light, leaving
us bright and open
like twin suns rising.
Sunayna Pal
Born and raised in Mumbai, India, Sunayna Pal happily resides in Maryland with her family. Her poetry book, Refugees in Their Own Country (B&W Fountain, 2022), was published on the Partition of India. Her poetry is published extensively in international journals and anthologies. She enjoys working as the Director of ‘The Poetry Academy.’ She is also devoted to the practice of Heartfulness meditation. Find more on her at sunaynapal.com.
The following work is Copyright © 2023, and owned by Sunayna Pal and may not be distributed or reprinted in any form whatsoever without written permission from the author.
At the threshold
They left their khussa1 at the door
not knowing they would have to run barefoot.
They left the hot koki2 on the kutta ji thaali3
to eat daan4 on banana leaves.
They left the empty sky that never cried
ever thirsting to learn new things.
They left the Kafi5 in Siraiki6
to hear hushes, swears and cries.
They left the Cheti Chand jo mela7
celebrating their savior from Mirkhshah8.
They left the lights twinkling
only to see them from Dongar Hill9.
They left…
not knowing they’d never go back.
1 footwear
2 flatbread
3 plate made of metal
4 donation
5 a traditional form of Sufi music
6 a language spoken in Sindh
7 birthday celebration for Jhulelal – God of Sindhis.
8 mythological king said to have oppressed Hindu Sindhis
9 a place in India from where the lights of Karachi can be seen at night
