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. Her third play, 28 MARVIN AVENUE is making the rounds. Tepper’s Novel satire titled ‘Office’ has been released by Wilderness House Press. A new 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

Every Room

Walls stained brown streaks
ceiling to floor
every room— I can smell
butchered blood
making this particular mess—
Why my house?
I worked hard on my house.
I chose the yellow paper
dancing with flowers
to hang on, hang on
the dining room walls.
Ruined.
This dwelling is sacred
where my dead
still live smiling
out of frames on tables,
bureaus, windowsills.
Cast in light and shadow.
Such sacrifice, this destruction
against my house.