Susan Isla Tepper is a twenty-year writer and the author of 11 published books of fiction and poetry and 3 stage plays. She has been nominated 19 times for the Pushcart Prize in both fiction and poetry. Her play ‘The Crooked Heart’ concerning artist Jackson Pollock premiered on October 25, 2022 at the Irish Repertory Theatre in NYC. Adapted from an earlier novel, it was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. Another play, LADY IN A POST BOX, co-written with poet and writer Ciaran O’Driscoll is moving toward production in Ireland. Tepper’s Novel satire titled ‘Office’ has been released by Wilderness House Press. Another novel ‘Hair of a Fallen Angel’ will be out in the winter.  Susan is a Brand Ambassador for The Galway Review. http://www.susantepper.com

Counting

By Susan Isla Tepper

The forest was quiet
but for the birds,
pine needles crunching
under his boots.
That was it.
A limp sun arced
the treetops.
He counted trees in rows.
Recounted them
north to south then south
to north
East to west and the reverse.
Until he felt satisfied.
Solace in numbers.
Identical trees
formed a boundary line.
He knew what he’d come to do.
Counting the bullets
in the magazine.
Only one last time.

Glenn Bowie is a published poet, lyricist, and photographer from the Boston area. He also owns and operates an elevator company that supplies custom-built elevators for clients from New England to Hollywood. Author of two poetry and photograph collections (Under the Weight of Whispers and Into the Thorns and Honey) on Big Table Publishing, he donates all profits from his books to various charities for the homeless and local animal shelters.