Susan Isla Tepper is a twenty-year writer and the author of 11 published books of fiction and poetry and 5 stage plays. She has been nominated 21 times for the Pushcart Prize in both fiction and poetry. Her play ‘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 as a Second Edition 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

CONSTRUCT

The nuclear family plus one
a dreamy construct
pushed other options
into the abyss—
Blame the second war, 
the post-war birth of TV:
Father Knows Best
Ozzie and Harriet
Make Room For Daddy

Yet WOMAN always looms 
Mother Earth syndrome—
tho’ she’s been raped
and battered repeatedly
torn to shreds
by those who swore to love,
honor and protect.

Clutching the bridal bouquet 
already she’s telegraphing 
wishes (demands) to his brain;
he’s already blocked
weak at the knees 
fear moving upward 
toward the crucial manliness.

Household pet remains neutral.
Knows bread gets buttered both sides.

Gloss melting
the house begins to break up.
Grief filled rooms.
Or as time moved on 
they sweated out
the long hard years
sheen to rust—
learning what it means 
to compartmentalize.

Digby Beaumont is an award-winning artist. His artwork has been published extensively in collaboration with writers of fiction, poetry and music. Much of his current work combines screen printing with acrylic painting and pen and ink drawing. His subjects include portraits, figures, urban scenes and still lifes. His work often suggests narrative. He also has a pen and ink series entitled I Don’t Know What Came Over Me, a whimsical take on what it is to be human. Digby is also a widely published writer. His stories and poetry have appeared in more than 100 magazines and anthologies, including The Best Small Fictions. Previously, as a textbook author, he had numerous publications, including international best sellers.