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By Annie Newcomer: The Flapper Press Poetry Café is honored to interview poets from all over the globe and share their beautiful poetry. This week, we feature the work of poet Prosper Ìféányí. Prosper Ìféányí writes from Lagos, Nigeria. His works are featured or forthcoming in Black Warrior Review, New Delta Review, Salt Hill, The Offing, Indianapolis Review, South Dakota Review, Magma Poetry, and elsewhere. We reached out to Prosper to ask him about his passion for poetry and what inspires him to write. Please meet Prosper Ìféányí! Annie Newcomer: Welcome, Prosper. Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Prosper Ìféányí: I am Prosper Ìféányí, a poet from Nigeria. I am a graduate of English and Literary Studies from Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria. Aside from writing poetry, I write essays and, occasionally, short stories. As far as my memory serves me, I have been writing since I was little. I come from a long line of very articulate and sharp-witted people who would say just about anything to get anything done. This, for me, wasn't my strong suit. Writing—other than orally speaking—for me, gave me that ample time to carve a niche of expression for myself in black and white. AN: Prosper, I love that you have such good insight as to the best way you share your skills. Sometimes I have trouble saying no and yet understand that we cannot be everything to everybody. I admire you for your inner wisdom and clear direction. So with this in mind, expound further on why you write. PÌ: Sometimes, as humans, we underestimate the power of being heard. Being heard is presumed to be the ultimate hallmark for actual existence, and this is the foremost reason why I write. Kim Addonizio submits that the writing and the creative process is "a continuing engagement with being alive." Coupled with the fact that I have been accused a score of times by my parents of being afraid and too timid to speak to others, I inadvertently took to writing as a carapace to shield myself from the infinite piercing of social slurs and juggernauts. AN: The way you quote established poets and then use their words to craft a personal meaning in such a beautiful way is lovely. Tell us more. PÌ: I started writing at a very tender age, when I discovered the world of numbers and mathematics couldn't accommodate me or my mind, I took to letters and words. Charles Bukowski in his poem "so you want to be a writer?," which provides the reader with a long list of things to not do, clearly steers me to the reasons why I write. He says, "if it's hard work just thinking about doing it, / don't do it." Never for once have I seen or perceived writing to be an arduous task but merely as an integral part of myself. AN: Memory holds a key place in the art of poetry and the key element you used to describe your collection of work. How do you describe "memory," this beautifully aesthetic term? PÌ: When I talk of memory, I just mean that receptacle which holds my thoughts and ideas together. Memory is where I go to find respite as a poet, and this can feature as a motif in the kinds of poetry I write. The idea of memory should not be misconstrued as a theme—it is mainly, for me, a vehicle through which my words are able to travel as far as it (my memory) permits. AN: Prosper, thank you for joining us here in the Poetry Café. We hope that you will keep us updated on your journey in poetry and join us in our feature series, ACT TWO, in the future. Now we look forward to reading the three poems you submitted with their backstories. PÌ: Thank you to Elizabeth Gracen at Flapper Press and you, Annie. I wrote this poem after thinking about the construct of feminism and women revolting against the hurdles of patriarchy. Just after reading Ariel by Sylvia Plath, I felt this sort of connectedness with the women folk. I had to talk to my mother about the concept of betrothed marriages and if there was any room for women to actually do what they love. The sadness and grief women experience during these marriages place them in a box. Pigeonholing them [into] a category. In the end, the only way to navigate the darkling times for women is encouragement from other women folk. Summarised Women Where I come from, women have their mouths tucked under their skin. For them, life is a tortuous journey, and every stop, a new departure. I know of women whose feet are bloody lakes. Women who wish their husbands choked on seaweeds and hemlocks. Their roots growing at the end of an imagined sky. My grandmother teaches me a summary of her life. She says: you lose so many things in that lonely shrubbery. One day, you are a little girl holding a water pot over a tiny-throated vase. The next, you are landed in such a place where everything is strange. Where you must start all over. You feel like a child who has only just begun to talk. Or sometimes you are like an old woman, like this, finding a voice you know you once had. You cannot be a woman and call everything beautiful, because beauty is yanked before your own very eyes. I have lived from loss to loss, and just when I thought I had found my footing, the lilacs in the thorny field had become briars. In that short time, so much is lost in servitude to your husband. You promise to stop talking about suffering because sufferings are never equal. For a woman, the only thing ever picked was a choice of exile—even that couldn't happen in peace. So one day, you will sit on a wooden crane and this will be the only lesson parting your lips to your daughters. That they will know of a wilting rose dying away, and untuck their mouths from their skins This is a personal poem. Written in the quiet hours, before the narrowing of light. I have always had a not-too-great relationship with my father, but this poem tries to revalidate and reconstruct that claim. Here, I limn the activities that strengthen a father and son through the purview of single parenthood and how a father's relationship can churn out with a son even in that period of absence of a mother. My Father The cough thundered in his chest with all its hands. Pummelling and pummelling. His skull was a hard helmet worn to pray. My father is yelling somewhere at a broken spigot: come out, you fuck! When winter was broken and he was staggering his way home, he would stop by the payphone to take a leak. Through static my mother’s voice stayed calm. The city of mist rising in her head never again flickering with light. I talked to your mom tonight, he’d say. His breath venom. He would drag himself from the kitchen floor into his room sequined with disco lights. He would nestle on his Lazy-Boy recliner, face down; cocked shotgun with double-zero mouths facing his chin (whose pellets he let escape into the body of night owls and nightingales). My father never taught me to woo a woman. He only taught me his carpentry trade. Once, when I held him staggering home, we stopped to crane up a building and trace the frames of windows falling away in rows. When we finished, we sat by the lawn, watching a broken pipe leak water all over the place. The only thing I remember after that day was my father, having briefly run a worn oval of soap round his head, and dancing unclad in the fizzling water, withdrawing into a patrol police car. I couldn’t run after him. Couldn’t drop his tool box strung over my neck. And then I remember a woman, who was my mother, come take me away in a shawl which smelt like daisies and boredom. Sometime last month, I read the poetry collection of Tawanda Mulalu entitled Please make me pretty, I do not want to die (Princeton University Press, 2023), and the poems therein inspired me to write this poem. The poems in the collection to me are very tender, urgent, and this can be evidently seen in the fact that the collection is a finalist for the 2022 Derek Walcott Poetry Prize. "Love Is a Doing Word" is my attempt to navigate love in a world of materialism. The number of let downs and heartbreaks we try to escape as humans can be overwhelming and, for some, not worth the stress. This is what this poem hopes to accomplish. Love Is a Doing Word "Like any lover, I'm into failed experiments." —Tawanda Mulalu There is an hierarchy in the way I love. When she says: I love you. I say, which car? She says it, and it feels like a croak ascending once more from the depths of filth. I prefer, I burger you. That way, I know she wants to eat something inside of me. A dying flower; a failing heart. A shut crypt. All I want, these days, is to watch the chirping birds flock around my window with their muchness. Winter bleeds, I still mistake love for depression. There's this rotary class I am attending. Teaching me to be a better person. Teaching me that love is kind and patient. Touching myself in the dark corners of my body to find some light. They say, exchange flowers and watch the other person light up with joy. I did it once. She loved me for it. I brush my teeth and arise to so many sunflowers. This girl is image-making home. This is nice but not what I imagined. Her eyes singing wetly. I am just not cut out for this. Leave my window. Shut the blinds. I don't wish to wash my clammy feet. Love is too much of a routine. Like a wish some boy wished for while his father slept—facedown. Annie Klier Newcomer founded a not-for-profit, Kansas City Spirit, that served children in metropolitan Kansas for a decade. Annie volunteers in chess and poetry after-school programs in Kansas City, Missouri. She and her husband, David, and the staff of the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens are working to develop The Emily Dickinson Garden in hopes of bringing art and poetry educational programs to their community. Annie helms the Flapper Press Poetry Café—dedicated to celebrating poets from around the world and to encouraging everyone to both read and write poetry! If you enjoyed this Flash Poet interview, we invite you to explore more here! The Flapper Press Poetry Café Presenting a wide range of poetry with a mission to promote a love and understanding of poetry for all. We welcome submissions for compelling poetry and look forward to publishing and supporting your creative endeavors. Submissions may also be considered for the Pushcart Prize. Please review our Guidelines before submitting! Submission Guidelines

By Angel Lopez: Major changes have been afoot in all of our lives, but it’s the internal shifts that have been causing the most commotion. It’s just become impossible to ignore the responsibility that comes with knowing a greater truth about yourself. Once you’ve unlocked the gate to a deeper understanding of your desires, needs, and reality, you find yourself in a kingdom that may look nothing like the life you’ve been living in up to this point. There are no longer remnants of structures built from your childhood trauma. Gone are the relationships that drain the air from your lungs, now replaced by ones that offer a breath of fresh comfort and insight for your self-growth. Even if this metaphoric new kingdom looks incredibly bare to you, life should be full of some clarity around what really matters versus what is just a waste of your gorgeous time. At this time, please do your heart a favor and get incredibly honest with your mind. Are you pursuing dreams, relationships, and realities that mean something to you? Could your energy resources be better directed than where they’re pointing now? Is your life in service to the core beliefs you hold and know to be true for you? You can continue walking down roads where you tell yourself that it’s just what you have to do right now and things will eventually change. Or you can remember that a magical entity isn’t going to appear at your doorstep and hand you a roadmap to your next chapter. Even if circumstances are extraordinary and you’re being financially challenged or overcome with a physical illness, you do have the ability to respond in a way that honors your soul’s authenticity. You just have to accept the need for change. This Sagittarius Season wants to help you get really straightforward with how you’re living this life. You should feel a cosmic burst of motivation that can be applied toward conquering the tasks that you know are good for you but have maybe been held back by fear or self-doubt. Now, that’s not to say there won’t be some questioning that comes along with it all. You still may find yourself needing to rethink the plan for what you’re doing. But you should find there’s an inspired, coherent idea for the plan. Your ambitions are there, even if you feel far from the goal. Don’t give in to thinking like a failure. You have a choice. You just have to make one that helps you take better care of you—and aligns you with your spirit. Read for your Sun sign but also check your Rising Sign, if you know it. ARIES It’s important that you get really honest about the principles you hold at the core of your being. Everything you give energy to must be in line with your personal philosophy or else you’re helping build your life on lies. Do what you can to elevate integrity to the surface of traits you hold dear, especially as attention starts to shift to your career and purpose. People will begin to pay more attention to what you’re working on and saying, so there can’t be any false narratives or truths lingering. You are known to act or speak before you think, which can sometimes translate to you saying you’re doing something when you’re really just getting the idea to do so in the moment. Try to navigate this power more toward speaking something into existence but then actually follow up on doing it. Yes, that means it’s time for perseverance and determination to rise to the surface as well. TAURUS It’s important that you get really honest about the subconscious urges that sometimes control your conscious life. You may find yourself immersed in the craziness that comes with the various responsibilities you hold for other people, but the greatest challenges may actually be coming from inside the house. How are you contributing to making your problems more than they need to be? Perhaps you’re not being fully clear with yourself about the habits that continue to create the mini-moments of chaos in your life. It’s valuable to gain this clarity because you actually have a ton of support available to you. Inner changes need to occur, though, in order for you to fully see it all. If you can’t bring a new perspective to the people, places, and things of your life, then you’ll miss the train and get left at the station. Catch yourself before using an old approach and see a fresh set of outcomes arise. GEMINI It’s important that you get really honest with the people in your life, which also means getting honest with yourself about why you choose some of them. On one hand, you can’t speak out of both sides of your mouth—well, actually, you can, but you shouldn’t. Be a straight shooter with those you love and tell them how you feel. Without genuine words and actions exchanged, you can’t expect genuine results. But of even greater necessity is the need to get clear about the people filling the circles of your life and whether they’re actually helping make your life greater. Sometimes we get used to people, or the idea of them, which makes it easy to keep them around. It’s safe. But is it of value? Are they bringing real joy, or are they just the salves we’re using to hopefully heal an old wound? It can be both, but if you’re not being honest, then the real healing can’t occur. CANCER It’s important that you get really honest about who is filling your days and whether you’re ignoring any important intuitive hits about who is actually supporting your personal growth. You’re generally capable of giving to people out of the goodness of your heart and making compromises that sometimes go against your wishes, which honestly shows what a caring partner, friend, and colleague you can be. However, you need to put yourself in the pole position now and make sure that no one is draining you of the energy you need to support your own goals. Odds are you know exactly who or what has been getting more of you than your schedule can manage, and it’s time to adjust and show them a new set of expectations for what you can give. If they love you as much as they say, they’ll adjust and be your ambition’s biggest fan; and if they can’t adjust, then you’ll be the one with some adjusting to do. LEO It’s important that you get really honest with your approach to the creative hot spring that’s always bubbling inside of you. Are you honoring the currents of inspiration that want to come through? You always have new mental inventions that could be birthed into reality, but you can’t bring every single one of them into the light of day, especially with all the daily tasks for everyone else that you always have on your plate. But one or more of your ideas wants to come into form right now, so it’s time to make the space to explore and develop. This comes with some important and needed alone time. Consider taking yourself on what Julia Cameron refers to as an “artist date.” Go somewhere where your imagination can take flight without interruption from anyone else. Look at art. Watch a great film or concert. Wander rows of inspired works at a craft fair. Remember the artist in you who’s ready to ignite once again. VIRGO It’s important that you get really honest about the foundations you have established your life upon and if they’re allowing any room for your playful inner child to emerge. You are the true planner and organizer who enjoys ticking boxes and crossing things off the checklist, but that checklist may be stale and in need of some refreshing. You may still be taking care of last year’s business because you’re good at it or approaching new tasks with last year’s mentality. Fresh eyes are needed, but they may need the help of a younger you. Call on the most innocent, joyful parts of yourself to help encourage the changes that need to be made. It’s like you’re the Jennifer Garner character in 13 Going on 30 (an absolute classic): try seeing your challenges through creative kid eyes and employ a sillier you when attacking them. You should also consider structuring in a little more play time for yourself while you’re at it. LIBRA It’s important that you get really honest about how you’re too easily able to give others the time and love you should be giving to yourself. It’s in your nature to compromise and worry whether your loved ones are feeling taken care of when in your company. But you also quietly know how to manage and prioritize your own needs in a way that doesn’t make anyone think you’re an ego monster. Still, the giving nature tends to win out. Now is the time to put more of yourself and your needs center stage. You won’t be abandoned for taking risks and making choices that others may not immediately understand. You may, in fact, be completely surprised by how supportive and excited they are to see you stand up and shout for what you want. And it may be time to surprise yourself by stepping onto the limb and taking the big swing that could ultimately alter your life in the best way. SCORPIO It’s important that you get really honest with the parts of your life that are getting way too much of your energy and resources when your heart just wants to be somewhere else. It’s not that you’ve completely painted yourself into a corner, but it can feel like you’ve built a house you don’t actually want to live in. And this may leave you feeling, in true Scorpio fashion, like you have to burn it all to the ground in order to move forward. That’s not the case, though. What are some creative adjustments you could make that would alleviate the pressures of the areas of your life that don’t hold your passion? And how can you start to invest more time and money into what it is that gets your heart excited? It’s not easy for you to do things in small doses, but even just a simple shift like leaving work early for a class or event of your choosing can make miracles. SAGITTARIUS It’s important that you get really honest about what’s holding you back from gaining the momentum you want so badly for your life. You have the ability to access the highest level of truth for yourself right now, but that will come with some moments of harsh acceptance and change. Consider the habits, relationships, or specific outlets of money that have existed in your life and are perhaps outweighing other areas you also deem important. It may be time to take a break or cut ties so that you can shift your energetic and literal resources into another direction that’s in need of your attention. If you’re feeling stuck in any sort of rut, it’s partially because you need to shake the etch-a-sketch and change the image. You’re also much stronger than you at times remember you are and don’t really need to rely on any crutches you’ve potentially held on to for too long. It’s time to hit your stride, but you’ll only hit it with a lighter load. CAPRICORN It’s important that you get really honest about who or what is draining you and that you make the space that’s needed to restore your energetic reserves. No one works harder than you, but then it becomes easy for you to forget to work hard for your own self-care. And without time for yourself, you aren’t actually able to fully enjoy the work or the eventual fruits of your labor. It’s necessary that you make some alone or quiet time for yourself. Not time for you to think about work or your long-term goals; this is time to stare into the void. To relax. To spend time with your breath. To watch your favorite 80’s movie and laugh or cry while eating something you rarely touch. All this may sound like a weird waste of time for someone like you, but without taking the time to fill up your cup, you have nothing of substance to pour into the next chapter of experiences and accomplishments. AQUARIUS It’s important that you get really honest about the dreams you have for your life and whether you’re keeping company with those who can support and encourage you. You may find that you are but just aren’t allowing them fully in, keeping them from being the cheerleading squad you deserve. Their encouragement could be some necessary fuel. And you’re always gonna be the most social queen, but if you’re not utilizing your circles in ways that bring out the best in you, then you’re just filling your time. And that is ultimately just keeping you from doing the work that goes into actualizing those dreams of yours. If you have projects and passions in the making, discuss them with your friends. Even if you don’t go that deep into describing your plans, you can at least consider everything you’re experiencing with them as fodder for the aspirations and work that you’re plotting. PISCES It’s important that you get really honest about your purpose and whether every action and decision is working in support of what you hope to achieve. It’s not always easy for you to place energy into your ambitions; you’d rather just allow things to flow in the river of life and latch on to opportunity when you spot it on the shore. Sometimes that works in your favor, making for surprising moments of perfect timing. But that approach can also be a tool of self-sabotage, keeping you from going after something that pushes on the walls of your comfort zone. It’s time to position all the areas of your life in front of that strong intuition of yours and see if everything is working toward your greater goals. If not, then it’s gotta go. However, you may just find yourself questioning what those greater goals even are. That’s okay. Just start there. And know that you’re in a great place to make some clarifying decisions and see results. Angel Lopez is a film producer, writer, astrologer, and co-host of the podcast, THE SPIRITUAL GAYZ alongside his husband, our Spiritual Guru Brandon Alter. Angel has been studying and working with both tarot and astrology for twenty years. He hosted the astrology web-series, ASTRO TALK WITH ANGEL, and writes the blog ASTROLOGY REALNESS. He has also had pieces published on Upworthy.com and The Huffington Post. On the film side, Angel produced the Sundance Film Festival award winning film DEAR WHITE PEOPLE, as well as the features THE DINNER and STATE LIKE SLEEP. He also wrote and directed his own short film, I CAN’T WITH YOU, which had its premiere at the 2016 HollyShorts Film Festival, and he recently finished producing filmmaker Justin Simien’s second feature, BAD HAIR. Visit www.thespiritualgayz.com to learn more. To sign up for The Spiritual Gayz newsletter click here.

By Flapper Press Poetry Café: The Flapper Press Poetry Café is happy to announce the five winners of our 2023 Autumn "Poetry in a Snapshot" Contest! Thank you to all the poets who sent us their wonderful work. We were thrilled to receive so many submissions to the contest. It's very exciting, but makes it so much harder to pick just five! Please keep writing poetry, and check back often for more contests. If you are interested in sending in your work for consideration through our regular submissions route, check out our guidelines, and send us your poetry and writing! Here were the rules for the "Poetry in a Snapshot" Contest: 1. Explore your world. Take an interesting original photo. 2. Write a poem inspired by your photo. 3. Send both your photo and poem to: info@flapperpress.com Here are the five winners, in alphabetical order. Thank you and enjoy! Shamik Banerjee The Jalebi Maker Jalebis, ochreous, round and tiny, are aswim in seething oil. The giant wok (whose rim's like tar) waits patiently to soak up all the yellow batter spiralling from the lota that's filled to the brim. He takes this daily occupation as a matter that calls for in-depth know-how. His mind and eyes are glued to the art. The earsplitting and constant chatter of crowds beside his shop imply they've come to him to have this tantalising sweet. In the bazaar, he is a luminary. People from afar, however rich or poor, throng at his pastel, slim, and antiquated store to revel in a platter of chenna Jalebis. Although a megastar, (he's been approached by auteurs for a feature film) he scoffs at Vainglory; if someone tries to flatter him, he says 'thank you', mannerly, wears the same dim- pink chambray, keeps the middle-parted, hot oil-spattered coiffeur each day, and chews on betel leaves while hymn- ing to Lord Krishna (this keeps his vigour unmarred). I queried once, "Where are you from, Sir?" in that clatter. He kept the skimmer, spat the paan, washed up each limb, and answered, "Sitamarhi district, Old Bihar." Word Meanings: Jalebi: an Indian sweet dish Lota: a pot Bazaar: a marketplace Chenna: unripened curd cheese Krishna: a Hindu goddess Paan: flavoured betel leaf Sitamarhi: a district (famous for its jalebis) in the Indian state of Bihar Bihar: a state in India. Shamik Banerjee is a poet from India. When he is not writing, he can be found strolling the hills surrounding his homestead. His poems have appeared in Fevers of the Mind, Lothlorien Poetry Journal, and Westward Quarterly, among others. Angela Carole Brown Autumn Haiku leaf burnished red nestled among the fallen browns prettiest girl at the dance Angela Carole Brown is a writer, musician, and artist. She won the North Street Book Prize in Literary Fiction (2018) for Trading Fours and has been honored with a DigiFest Temecula Award, Buddha International Film Festival Award, & Indo Global International Film Festival Award for The Richest Girl in the World. To read more about the poet, visit her website here. Pat Daneman Bread Is Silent, Seed Talks Falling like snow, falling like starlight, like shot, like the jitter of lanterns coming across fields from miles away. Seed talks to me, says do not let the maple’s brilliance fool you, the beggar roses opening their hands. Some knife has shortened the track of the sun. Do not let the soft skin of the moon distract you. Winter is next door. The feeders hang from the locust’s lowest branch, swing in the wind, calling the finches, the grackles, the mourning doves, the cardinal pair. Bread crumbles from my hands, spreads over the ground with the silence of a father. Seed talks to me like a mother. Says you are lucky if your house is warm. Says come to the feast— the wind gusts colder every day. Pat Daneman’s recent poetry appears in Poet’s Touchstone, Lakeshore Review, Gyroscope, and Wild Roof. Her collection, After All, was first runner up for the 2019 Thorpe- Menn Award. She is author of a chapbook, Where the World Begins, and co-librettist of the oratorio, "We, the Unknown." She lives in Candia, NH. If you would like to read more about Pat Daneman, visit her website here. Brooke Herter James A Boy with a Treasure Box sees not the clouds nor the cows nor his mother nor his brother— He sees only the pebbles of gold that everyone else left behind. Brooke Herter James lives in a very old house in Vermont with her husband, two donkeys, a mess of chickens, and a dog. She is the author of one children’s picture book, three chapbooks, and one poetry/prose/photography collection. She is the recipient of the 2018 Hunger Mountain's Katherine Paterson Best Picture Book Manuscript Award and has had selected poems appear in PoemTown Vermont, Mountain Troubador Poetry Journal, Orbis, Kansas City Voices, Tulip Tree, Review and Rattle as well as the online publications Bloodroot Literary, Poets Reading The News, New Verse News, Flapper Press, Typishly, Writing in a Woman's Voice, and Heartland. She is honored to have been chosen as a finalist in the Poetry Society of Vermont's 2018 National Poetry Contest. Brooke can be found on Facebook or at brookejamesbooks.com. Susanna Lang Photos by: Susanna Lang Mer des Rochers Sauve These upthrust towers of stone could only have been shaped by water or gods. You who lived here, in houses whose stones you set in place yourself between the towers, you knew water was a god. Your houses unroofed now that you have been gone so long, open to the rain when it comes. Rain fell last week, and even today water pools in shallow bowls worn into the stone, despite the drought. You terraced the hill, grew cherry trees, peach trees, olives, vines. The twisty paths with their hidden drops kept you safe from attack. Still you left, moved down by the river. The stone protected but was unforgiving. No false steps allowed. After a time, its demands wore on you, like water on stone. Susanna Lang divides her time between Chicago and Uzès, France. Her most recent chapbook, Like This, was released in 2023 (Unsolicited Books), along with her translations of poems by Souad Labbize, My Soul Has No Corners (Diálogos Books). Her third full-length collection of poems, Travel Notes from the River Styx, was published in 2017 by Terrapin Books. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in such publications as The Common, December magazine, Asymptote, American Life in Poetry, Mayday, Rhino Reviews, and The Slowdown. More information available at www.susannalang.com. The Flapper Press Poetry Café Presenting a wide range of poetry with a mission to promote a love and understanding of poetry for all. We welcome submissions for compelling poetry and look forward to publishing and supporting your creative endeavors. Submissions may also be considered for the Pushcart Prize. Please review our Guidelines before submitting! Submission Guidelines

By Elizabeth Gracen: Not long ago, sequestered away in our homes, terrorized by a virus that turned the world upside down, fearful about an uncertain future and what to do with ourselves, we hunkered down. We waited, unsure of how long it would be before we could stick our heads above ground again. Even as that fairly traumatic collective memory fades and our lives pick up pace in an ever-fraught world, there are remnants and evidence of what we made of our time during lockdown. For many creative people, there emerged unforeseen projects born out of frustration, boredom, and the ever-present, incessant need to create. Such is the case with John Myers, an award-winning visual collaborator, producer, and visual effects supervisor for bi-coastal visual effects studio Ring of Fire for 23 years and now the owner of Mirage Effect. He's also the director/producer of the new streaming docuseries The Dual. The Dual is a multi-episode documentary featuring a classic college wrestling dual meet that originally aired live on Iowa Public Television in 1986. This docuseries showcases the 8-time consecutive NCAA Champion Iowa Hawkeyes, coached by the iconic Dan Gable. On February 23, 1986, the Hawks took on in-state rival Iowa State Cyclones, coached by 26-year-old Jim Gibbons in his first season of coaching the Cyclones. All ten matches that fateful day were highly contested. Now, 35 years later, we take a look back at the legacy of this event, through interviews with the athletes, coaches and the media. Myers started wrestling at Eagle Grove grade school in small town Iowa. He then wrestled in college as a Nebraska Cornhusker in the late 80s. His memory of those early days sounds a lot like a classic Hollywood sports movie. “In my little town, we started wrestling in second grade. It was all truck drivers, farmers, school teachers, people who worked on the railroad. And one of the best things in the town was the high school wrestling program that had a rich tradition—and it was a town with only 2,300 people. It was like All the Right Moves, but for wrestling.” During the lockdown, Myers sharpened his film-editing skills from his home studio, searching for a creative outlet, scrolling the Internet for inspiration. As the search browser found its algorithmic footing, an unexpected treasure appeared from the Iowa State University Library Archives site. “It was 2 or 3 in the morning. I found a wrestling meet between the #1 and #2 wrestling teams in 1986—Iowa vs. Iowa State. It was a dual meet in three parts, and I was just mesmerized,” said Myers. What is a Dual Meet? "A dual meet in wrestling is a competition between two wrestling teams, where each team sends out one wrestler in each weight class to compete against wrestlers from the opposing team. It is one of the most common formats of wrestling competitions and is widely popular in high school and college wrestling." —cultofwhatever.com “There’s ten matches in a dual meet—and all of these ten matches were highly dramatic and very competitive. It was all these people I knew from back in the good old days—a bunch of kids from Iowa,” said Myers. The Iowa State coach was Jim Gibbons, NCAA Champ Wrestler and Coach / ESPN College Wrestling Analyst/ B1G Net Wr OG (@JGibLacesUp). In 1986, Gibbons was a twenty-six-year-old, first-season coach. Over the years, Myers and Gibbons became friends, often talking about a collaboration based on Gibbons' career in sports, but when Myers called him to ask about the 1986 dual meet, Gibbons hesitated. “The dual meet was a moment—like lightning in a bottle,” said Myers. “There were twenty-nine NCAA championship finals appearances by these guys. It was a lot of accolades, but Jim didn’t want to think about it thirty-five years later. It was kind of a bad memory for him, because after this dual where his team did well, they fell very short of their goals two weeks later at the NCAA Tournament in Iowa City.” When Gibbons declined the invitation to collaborate on the project, Myers reluctantly went back to his studio in search of new inspiration. But, two days later, he received a phone call. “Okay, we’re doing it,” said Gibbons. Circumstances quickly aligned and past connections resurfaced with a champion for the project in Iowa public television, which provided access to the archival footage stored in a box in a vault in Johnston, Iowa. “The broadcast master was thirty-five years old, 3/4-inch tape—the most analog thing you’ve ever seen. It had ghosting (in different colors) off the back of the athletes as they were moving—like a Pink Floyd music video,” said Myers. Myers played around with the low-res footage and decided to interview a couple of the coaches and athletes, thinking he might have enough to fashion a 90-minute documentary. When Iowa public television agreed to provide post-production, Gibbons starting making calls, and before they knew it, they had thirty-six interviews in nine states. “It was the beginning of COVID. All the airports were empty. We were walking through JFK, and I maybe saw two people. We had our pick of rental cars. It was surreal.” Myers employed the basics of guerrilla filmmaking, with Gibbons shooting B-roll with an iPhone. The camera and vintage-lens footage matched nicely with the archival tape, and Myers brought on talented colorist Steven P. Arkle (“Sparkle” to those in the know) to wrangle the iPhone 4K footage to match. In the end, Myers had six thousand minutes of interviews and two-and-a-half hours of the dual meet, which he transformed into a series of six one-hour episodes. Dan Gable - IOWA HAWKEYES HEAD COACH & Jim Gibbons - ISU CYCLONES HEAD COACH “The story is told chronologically as the event happened, and there's no narrator. The guys are telling the story. I pretty much asked all of them the same 10 questions as they watched the match.” Wrestlers and coaches, once arch rivals, let memory’s pull take them back thirty-five years to the high drama of sports competition and the consequences that followed in the dual meet’s wake. Myers found the original color commentator, Chuck Patten, to recap every match and the meet’s results for the film, recreating that unique feeling that only college sports can elicit. The project faced its own share of drama along the way as Myers pressed ever onward to bring it to fruition, convinced that if the series was good, it would find a distributor and, ultimately, an avid audience. “I mean, you make these projects. My expectations weren’t very high. I just wanted to do it because it was a COVID project, and I hadn’t done anything [of] this magnitude. I didn’t know! I honestly though it was going to a 90-minute documentary." Myers credits his post-production teams at Yessian Music & Sound and Mad Colour for bringing The Dual across the finish line. "For audio, Scotty Gatteño was the mixer, and Michael Yessian was head of production. They did work on this that I didn't think was possible from an audio standpoint. I cannot sing their praises enough. And the same with Sparkle. They just saved it. They turned it into this kind of gritty, eighties thing—and it was never meant to be this super-polished, but they turned it into something really beautiful. It looks great, sounds great." The Dual on the road. The Dual recently hit the road for a series of sold-out pubic screenings around Iowa that will run until the end of the year. Wrestling fans can't get enough. "We're not selling tickets, we're just having these events. The venues fill to capacity in a day with ticket registration. It has been an unreal response for us!" A must-see for sports enthusiasts and documentary lovers, The Dual is scheduled for streaming platforms in early December 2023. All proceeds from the film will go to The Dual Foundation, a tax-exempt 501(c)3 organization that supports organizations, communities, and individuals who are advancing, promoting, and coaching in the sport of amateur wrestling. To read more about The Dual or find a screening, visit their website and follow: Instagram: @thedual86 X: @thedual86 IMDB: The Dual Elizabeth Gracen is the owner of Flapper Press & Flapper Films.

By Kimberly Hayes: Imposter syndrome can be a significant hurdle on the road to personal and professional development, and many of us feel it creeping into our daily lives. The good news is there are several things you can do to prevent these feelings from becoming overwhelming. This article offers a multi-faceted approach to dispelling the myths and misunderstandings that fuel imposter syndrome while providing practical solutions for building self-confidence and embracing a more productive, fulfilling life. The Anatomy of Self-Doubt Imposter syndrome is not merely a transient feeling but a deeply ingrained mindset that cripples ambition and shrouds talent. Understanding its underlying cognitive and emotional processes can demystify this seemingly insurmountable barrier to success. It often thrives in environments where high expectations prevail, leading to a cycle of self-doubt that deters individuals from seizing opportunities and showcasing their abilities. Breaking down the components of self-doubt is the first step in charting a course toward greater self-assurance and professional fulfillment. Go Back to School If you’re looking for a way to boost your confidence, you could try going back to school—perhaps in a lucrative field like cybersecurity! This would provide you with the foundational knowledge you need to advance in your career, with upward mobility bolstered by recent academic success, giving you both the drive and the knowledge you need to get ahead. Cultivating a Positive Ecosystem The environments and relationships individuals cultivate have a direct impact on self-perception. The right network can serve as a mirror that reflects capabilities and potential rather than magnifying flaws and insecurities. Establishing more connections with mentors, colleagues, and friends who encourage progress and provide constructive feedback can create a buffer against the detrimental effects of imposter syndrome. Such an ecosystem nurtures the spirit and enables the mind to focus on strengths instead of dwelling on perceived inadequacies. Accept the Reality of Imperfection Perfectionism is often a cloak disguising deep-seated fears and insecurities. Rather than serving as a motivator, it can become an inhibitor, perpetuating a constant state of dissatisfaction. Accepting the inevitability of imperfection can liberate one from the chains of unattainable standards. By adopting a balanced perspective on failures and accomplishments, individuals can build resilience and gain a healthier, more realistic self-view, which in turn eases the grip of imposter syndrome. Revel in Small Wins The habit of discounting personal achievements feeds directly into the cycle of imposter syndrome. Recognizing and cherishing small milestones can recalibrate self-assessment, making it more aligned with reality. By setting manageable goals and celebrating their completion, individuals not only develop a greater sense of competence but also build a reservoir of confidence. This proactive approach shifts the focus from what’s lacking to what has been accomplished, offering a more constructive framework for self-evaluation. Streamline Your Digital Life Effectively managing your digital documents is an essential aspect of maintaining a stress-free work environment. By leveraging online tools that facilitate tasks such as merging, reordering, deleting, and rotating pages within PDF files, you can streamline your digital workspace. Just click here in order to use a PDF file converter, and you’ll be amazed at how much easier it is to organize and access your important documents once you’ve digitized them. Furthermore, harnessing these digital tools empowers you to maintain a clutter-free workspace, ultimately enhancing your productivity and peace of mind. Extend Kindness Inwardly When it comes to tackling imposter syndrome, self-compassion is often the missing piece. Correcting this means treating oneself with the same understanding and support usually reserved for loved ones. Practicing self-compassion encourages emotional resilience and nurtures a balanced perspective on both failures and successes. It serves as a remedy for the harsh self-criticism that often accompanies imposter syndrome. Reroute Destructive Thoughts The internal monologue that perpetuates imposter syndrome often goes unquestioned. Learning to identify and challenge these negative thought patterns allows for their replacement with more constructive and realistic beliefs. This reframing exercises cognitive flexibility, equipping individuals with the tools to combat future bouts of self-doubt. Adopt an Ongoing Learning Ethos A constant thirst for learning can serve as a powerful antidote to imposter syndrome. When the focus shifts from fixed abilities to ongoing growth, the conversation changes from "I am not good enough" to "I am a work in progress." This change in narrative facilitates a healthier, more dynamic relationship with oneself, creating room for both personal and professional advancement. Imposter syndrome need not be a life sentence. Through keen understanding, positive relationships, acknowledgment of imperfection, recognition of achievements, self-compassion, cognitive restructuring, and a focus on continuous learning, one can unlock unparalleled growth and success. While the journey may be challenging, the potential rewards—greater self-confidence and fulfillment—are worth the effort! Kimberly Hayes is Chief Blogger for Public Health Alert as she studies to become a crisis intervention counselor. She enjoys writing about health and wellness and created Public Health Alert to help keep the public informed about the latest developments in popular health issues and concerns.

By: Angela Townsend: Love is spadework and compromise, humor and humility. It is a fifty-five gallon drum of salt and paradox. It is tireless, fearless translation. This last task is as dangerous as volcano-spelunking. But if language is slippery, love’s letters are buttered beans, slapstick and immature and amused by themselves. They snicker through our fingers just when we think we understand, and we squish them beyond recognition at the last moment. Fortunately, it is seldom the last moment. Take heart! There are many maddening moments yet to practice your verbs and valor. I found myself in a mushed, mistranslated moment in my boss’s office. After miles of wit and teamwork, we took off our shoes to test the holy ground of humanity. This is not new territory. Neil has been both paycheck-signer and friend for sixteen years. We have persevered through paragraphs about each other’s families and frailties. I know the fear beneath his bravery. He has seen the anger lining my angora. But friendship only admits amateurs, and old friends speak in fluent clumsy. “So.” Neil leaned back, clicked his pen ten times in rapid succession, and looked out the window. “All your medical stuff. Uh, how’s that going?” I turned as red as that pen he uses to edit my newsletter articles. I willed my insulin pump not to siren, a hobby it reserves for Neil’s office. I raced through mental spreadsheets titled Comfortably Vulnerable and Way Too Naked. Anxiety jumped in my lap and started pressing buttons on my insulin pump and my brain. Was Neil looking for reasons to fire me? Did Neil think I was a big giant baby? I pulled out my Neil-Love dictionary and flipped to "Medical stuff (all your)." Translation: “I care about you deeply. I know you carry heavy things. I am your friend.” Ah. Of course. I have been translating Neil nearly two decades now, so I know “not bad” means “you deserve a Pulitzer,” and “you’re a good listener” means “you are my cherished kin.” No doubt, Neil works hard to translate my gush-geyser back into Neil. “This work is a haven of purpose, a community of love, the high honor of my life!” means “You’re a good boss.” “If you cut me, I bleed orange and blue!” means “I’m loyal. Also, our logo is cool.” We yell from different planets, and love lands on a mutual star. I wonder what might happen if we were willing to translate all day. We can translate over breakfast. “Call me when you get there” means “You are precious.” We can translate at the checkout line. “I like your scrunchie” means “You are a human being, and so am I.” We can translate at the conference table. “Here’s the agenda” means “We are building a world together.” We can translate in traffic. “Go to hell” probably means “Go to hell,” but 4th-century monks found a codex in which it also means “I am a trembling child on the wheel of time, your frail brother in the bonds of mercy.” We can translate over tuna casserole. “Take the last scoop” means “God bless you, God love you, God make God’s face to shine upon you.” We can translate at the bedside. “Read to me” means “Your voice is my nest.” We can translate the television. “Welcome to The Tonight Show!” means “There is always something to be excited about! Wear your exclamation point like a backwards baseball cap, and you will feel better!” We can translate when we can’t stop staring at the ceiling. “Can I handle tomorrow?” means “I care about my life deeply.” There is always something better between the letters. We crack the sly semicolons as love’s linguists. As long as we keep talking, we may yet become friends. As Development Director for a cat sanctuary, Angela Townsend bears witness to mercy for all beings. This was not the path she expected with a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, but love is a wry author. Angie also has a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from Vassar College. She has had Type 1 diabetes for 32 years, laughs with her mother daily, and delights in the moon. Find out more about Angela Townsend: Twitter: @TheWakingTulip Instagram: @fullyalivebythegrace

By Morgan Johnson: When it comes to love and relationships, a tarot card reading can offer profound insights. Nowadays, you can get a 100% free and interactive love tarot reading from the comfort of your own home. This article will guide you through the rich symbolism of love tarot cards, how to conduct your love tarot reading, and how to interpret the cards in the context of your romantic life. Let's delve in! Understanding Symbolism in Tarot Cards Tarot cards come in a deck of 78, divided into the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana. But don't let the esoteric jargon bewilder you; in simpler terms, these cards tell a story. The Major Arcana focuses on life-changing events and deep, emotional experiences. When these cards appear in a love reading, they often signify significant shifts or decisions in your relationship. Cards such as "The Lovers," "The Empress," and the "Two of Cups" from the Minor Arcana specifically deal with matters of the heart. The Minor Arcana, on the other hand, represents the more mundane aspects of life. If these cards show up, you might need to focus on everyday actions to improve your love life. Cards such as the "Ten of Cups" signify emotional fulfillment, while the "Three of Swords" often represents heartbreak. By grasping the symbolism, you unlock the key to understanding your love life better. Learning the symbols is like learning a new language—the language of your own intuition and inner wisdom. For a deeper understanding, you might consider getting online readings from Tarotoo. This will offer you personalized insights and guidance on your journey. What Is a Love Tarot Reading? A love tarot reading focuses on questions about your love life. For singles, the "Ace of Cups" is a positive sign, often indicating new relationships or romantic potential. In existing relationships, this card suggests a fresh start, allowing both partners to move past old issues and deepen their emotional connection. The "Ace of Cups" can also hint at upcoming events, like engagements or baby showers. Love tarot typically uses a three-card spread, each card providing insights into different aspects of your love life. You can opt for Major Arcana cards, which carry powerful symbolic meanings. The goal is to address specific love-related questions, whether you're single, dating, or in a committed relationship. The spread is designed to give you a comprehensive view of your emotional state, helping you make informed decisions in your love life. Conducting Your Own Love Tarot Reading Navigating love's complexities can often leave us yearning for clarity and guidance. Love tarot offers a different way of looking at our love lives and understanding what's happening. If you're considering doing your own love tarot reading, here are the steps to start. 1. Choose Your Environment The first crucial step for conducting a love tarot reading is setting up the right environment. Choose a calm and quiet environment where nobody can interrupt you. Many opt to light candles or incense to create a serene atmosphere. Close your eyes to hone in on a specific question or issue related to love that you would like guidance on. Being clear in your intention will make the reading more insightful. 2. Select Your Tarot Deck Moving on, it's time to choose your tarot deck. If you already own one, great! If you don't have a tarot deck, pick one that you connect with both visually and emotionally. This will make your love tarot readings more meaningful. Different decks have different themes and artistic styles. The key is to pick one you feel connected with, because this will enhance the energy and insights of the reading. 3. Shuffle and Draw the Cards So, you have found a quiet space and a tarot deck. Now it's time to dive into the reading. Start by shuffling the cards, all while thinking about your love question. This helps you connect with the cards on a deeper level. When you feel like the cards are well-mixed and your question is clear in your mind, it's time to draw. A three-card spread is a great starting point for those new to tarot. It's simple but can give you a lot of information. The first card you draw will tell you about your past, shedding light on how you got to where you are now in your love life. Next, the second card will discuss your present situation, giving you a snapshot of your current feelings or relationship status. Lastly, the third card will give you a peek into the future, showing you what might happen based on how things are going. For those who prefer a more concise insight, a tarot reading with one card can provide a direct message or guidance for your love life. 4. Interpret the Cards After drawing the cards, it's time to interpret them. Each card in the tarot has a general meaning, but the context of your specific question can provide a unique interpretation. For example, if "The Lovers" card appears, it often suggests a meaningful choice in love is imminent. However, if the card appears in reverse, it may indicate a rift or potential breakup. It's also essential to look at the cards as a collective, examining how they relate to one another in your spread. 5. Reflect and Take Action Lastly, spend some time reflecting on the messages revealed by the cards. What insights have they provided about your love life? Remember, tarot cards don't predict the future; they offer a snapshot of your current energies and suggest potential outcomes based on those energies. Use this insight as guidance, but remember that you always have free will to shape your destiny, especially when it comes to matters of the heart. Interpreting the Cards for Your Love Life Interpreting tarot cards requires a blend of intuition and knowledge. Each card has a general meaning, but the context of your question can change the interpretation. If "The Lovers" card appears, it could mean a choice in love is coming your way. However, if it appears reversed, it may indicate a decision leading to a breakup. It's not just the individual card meanings that count. Pay attention to the imagery, colors, and symbols on the cards. Sometimes, a seemingly unrelated element in the background of a card can offer remarkable insights. Online platforms such as Tarotoo offer free and interactive tarot readings, providing interpretations and love advice based on your cards. Conclusion To sum it up, love tarot readings are a special way to get advice about your love life. These cards can give you helpful hints. You can pick cards such as the "Ace of Cups" to learn about new love or fix an old relationship. To conduct a love tarot reading, you only need to find a quiet spot, consider your love questions, and pick your cards. The cards can tell you about the present and what might happen in future. So, you get a roadmap for your love life that you can use to make good choices. Morgan Johnson is a seasoned content writer specializing in transformative content that bridges various industries. Currently associated with Heathcote-Schiller, a top-tier company, he harnesses his passion for the written word to create impactful narratives. His work not only resonates with a global audience but also fosters intellectual curiosity and innovation.

By Annie Newcomer: The Flapper Press Poetry Café is honored to feature the work from poets from all over the globe. This week, we present the work of poet Cathryn Essinger! Cathryn Essinger is the author of five books of poetry—most recently The Apricot and the Moon and Wings, or Does the Caterpillar Dream of Flight?, both from Dos Madres Press. She is primarily a narrative poet with an interest in nature. Her poems can be found in a wide variety of journals, from The New England Review to PANK. She lives in Troy, Ohio, where she raises Monarch butterflies and tries to live up to her dog's expectations. Some of her poems can be found on the Poetry Foundation website, and others are online. Cathryn is always surprised when someone Googles her and asks about her poems, especially her dog poems. When people start sending her pictures of their dog “driving,” she knows that a particular poem (“The Man Next Door Is Teaching His Dog to Drive”) has been reprinted somewhere. "After they are published, poems sort of take on a life of their own, don’t they? Sometimes they return home, sort of like grown children, just to say hello." Read more abut Cathryn Essinger on her website. We reached out the Cathryn to talk to her about her work, passions, and influences. Please meet Cathryn Essinger! Annie Newcomer: Cathy, welcome, to our Flapper Press Poetry Café. In reading over your submission, this line especially touched me: "I am not out to try to save the world—just to repair a little of the damage that we have done to the planet." Can you expound on how your poetry accomplishes this tender goal? Cathryn Essinger: Wouldn’t that be lovely, if poetry could repair the planet?! I think it’s going to take a lot more than poetry to fix the damage that we’ve done to our home, but I do think we can change some attitudes that have caused the problem. I wasn’t going to write about raising butterflies—it was just something that I like to do—but invariably it creeped into my poetry. I raise Monarchs and Black Swallowtails, and when I’m lucky, a few other moths and butterflies. I don’t think a few more butterflies here and there are going to tip the balance, nor are Monarch butterflies likely to go extinct. But those of us who live in the Midwest could easily lose that incredible migration to Mexico that is threatened by everything from our lawn chemicals to climate change. My neighbors know that I don’t use chemicals on my lawn and why. I also let the milkweed, violets, and Queens Anne’s lace run rampant in the hedgerow because they are all food sources for swallowtails. Most of my neighbors have lawns that I would call chemical masterpieces. (One of my biggest pet peeves are the lawn companies that advertise their products as “all natural.” Of course, they ARE natural, but so is arsenic and cyanide, and their concoctions kill nevertheless.) Gradually, however, people are coming around. I wrote about a local farmer who, after years of tilling the fields, in his retirement decided to raise bees and to let the milkweed grow for the butterflies. The title of the poem is “Roundup Ready,” which is the brand name of the weed killer that has wiped out the milkweed in most of the farmland in the Midwest and, thus, threatened the Monarch butterflies. The poems in my chapbook, Wings, or Does the Caterpillar Dream of Flight?, talk the reader through the lifecycle of the Monarch caterpillar and butterfly. Proceeds from that volume I donate to various conservation groups, and I usually hand out milkweed seeds when I do readings. It’s fun to get emails from readers who say, “My seeds came up, and I have caterpillars in the garden.” Creating a safe place for small things to grow only saves a small bit of the planet, but writing about it can certainly make more people aware of the problem. Small things matter. AN: I live on the border of Kansas and Missouri, about twenty houses from the state line. My poetry workshops are in both states. I can see ways in which poets in these two states differ. So I am curious, is there a uniqueness that you find in poets who reside in your state of Ohio? Or not? Please share your thoughts on this question. CE: I’ve lived in both Kansas and Missouri, and I can see a difference in their populations. Ohio is definitely the heart of the Midwest, and most of our poets reflect that Midwest background. But, Ohio is also a very diverse state—lots of farmland, lots of big cities. I like to go to some poetry readings in Toledo, where I grew up and still have family. Poets in the Toledo and Cleveland area often emphasize their Rust Belt roots; in fact, there are journals named after that local reference and some wonderful urban poets. However, I live north of Dayton, on the farthest edge of Appalachia, and you can see that heritage in local writing as well. In fact, our state poet laureate for the last two years, Kari Gunter-Seymour, is from the Appalachian region of Ohio, and she published an anthology, I Thought I Heard a Cardinal Sing, which was a hugely successful collection of poetry with Appalachian themes. But, because of the migration from Appalachia to Ohio, you can hear southern accents all the way up to Toledo and Cleveland. Actually, I have lived all over the Midwest. We moved a lot with my father’s job when I was growing up. I used to tell people, “Name a state in the Midwest, and I’ve probably lived there!” I do think there is a Midwest sensibility that, for me, is an emphasis on nature and farmland, but for others it is the industrial heartland and the work ethic that goes with that kind of daily labor. AN: With your interest in nature as well as writing poems, do you feel that it is important for a poet to do research in order to be factual in their poetry, or is imagery and metaphor sufficient? Why do you think this is either important or not important? CE: I think that question pretty much answers itself—if I didn’t do the research, I wouldn’t have anything to write about! I don’t set out to research any particular topic. I just follow my own curiosity and find out what I need to know. If a poem comes out of those interests, that’s great, but I don’t set out to research a topic so I can write a poem, although I certainly know writers who do that. For me, it’s just an exploratory experience, and the poem becomes part of that. That said, it’s awfully important to get the facts right. Please don’t confuse the difference between butterflies and moths or tell me that some critter overwinters when it obviously does not. If you follow your own interests, whether it’s reading the evening news or hiking up a mountain, that becomes research and, invariably, a part of your writing life. I am always delighted when a poem teaches me something, so I love reading those poets who work their research into their poems. Paula Lambert has taught me a lot about birds in her poetry, and Dick Westheimer writes about current events in such a way that you know he has done his “research” by following the evening news. Myrna Stone, however, is a formal poet who bases most of her writing on research and the biographies of women who have been neglected by history—the wives of famous men, for instance. I have learned a lot from reading these poets! And I should mention Marion Boyer, who has recently published a volume of poems titled Ice Hours about Ernest Shackleton’s Antarctic expedition. Beautifully researched and a chilling read. AN: You describe yourself as a narrative poet. For those who do not know the definition of narrative poetry, might you share your thoughts on what defines this form and the ways it differs from other forms? Also, include why you are drawn to the narrative. CE: I could make an argument that ALL poetry is narrative with very few exceptions, simply because everyone expects a story. It is almost innate to our thinking process—put three birds on a wire and someone is seeing correlation in that arrangement. (Need an example? Two of the three birds are sitting closer together—are they a mated pair? Why is the third one there? Is it an offspring or another adult that is being excluded?) Correlation is not causation, but we are so hardwired to follow a narrative thread that we have to be reminded ourselves of that fact. Even imagistic poems, and even surrealism, define themselves by their emphasis, or lack of it, on narrative. What we find disturbing about surrealism is that someone has messed with the narrative. We struggle to find the storyline, and that itself becomes the story. Even the imagistic poem “The Red Wheelbarrow” by William Carlos Williams begins with “So much depends upon,” and then the reader threads the pieces into their own narrative. That said, there are some language poets, some song lyrics, maybe some haikus, that manage to avoid a narrative, but even there I think the lack of a narrative sort of defines the poem! We are storytelling animals, and that defines the way we see the world and how we think about it. AN: I am looking into tagging monarchs in the fall at the University of Kansas. Do you tag monarchs? CE: I hope you get to tag Monarchs. It's a wonderful experience. I don't tag many because I only bring in the ones that I think are "making poor choices." Making a chrysalis on the hubcap of my husband's car is a bad choice, as is trying to climb the bird bath, or three caterpillars on one very small piece of milkweed. I actually brought home a caterpillar one time that was waiting for the light to change at a major intersection in Troy. I have no idea where he came from, but it was a bad choice. I do kind of keep track of the ones in the garden just to see if they are growing and finding enough to eat. I bring some in to entertain the neighborhood kids and to try to convince my neighbors to stop poisoning their lawns. Another reason that I don’t tag is that I like to look up in the fall and imagine that they are ALL MINE! In the poem “The Migration,” I mention that it’s fairly common to follow flocks of butterflies on radar. I wrote in that poem, “According to weather reports, the leading edge is already south of Tulsa, 500,000 strong, flying at 2,500 feet, just ahead of a cold front, winging toward the Texas funnel into Mexico.” You can’t imagine that scenario without wondering if a few of the Monarchs from your own backyard are among that group making their way to safety among the oyamel firs of Mexico. AN: I love this answer. I have such fond memories of the neighbors who engaged with me as a child. Do you ever have opportunities to share poetry with the neighborhood children? CE: I don’t often share poems with the neighborhood kids, but I taught college freshman and sophomores for many years. In my mind, they are still “kids.” Once I tell them that I am a poet and we read a few poems along with our other assignments, invariably someone will come up to me and say, “I’ve written this poem; can I show it to you?” There are a lot of closet poets out there. Sometimes people just need permission to talk about poetry. As for butterflies, honestly, the kids are pretty well educated! The elementary school teachers are doing a great job raising butterflies in their classrooms. It’s their parents and other adults who have missed out on the natural education. If I take some caterpillars or butterflies to an educational event, it’s the kids who come up and tell me that “this is the butterfly that goes all the way to Mexico!” That doesn’t mean that they are willing to touch them, however! Usually it is dad or mom who will demonstrate that the caterpillars are harmless, and the butterflies can be picked up without damaging their wings. I let them walk up the children’s arms, which is a good chance to explain that butterflies taste with their feet. AN: Today, you will share three beautiful nature poems. Since you submitted, however, I leaned that you are also working on WWII poetry. Might I ask you to share one from that series? CE: I'll be glad to send a WWII poem. This is the poem that started me on this project. The title is "Home," and it was published in The Naugatuck River Review, which features narrative poems. Home I show my mother an old picture of five girls with their arms linked, and although she can no longer tell you what day it is, she smiles and says, Oh, Easter, 1945, the war is over. The boys are coming home, coming from Japan, Okinawa, and the Philippines. No more dancing with other girls, or with flat-footed, 4F boys. Soon there would be sugar and butter, new shoes, kisses and weddings. I am wearing my last pair of silk stockings that your father sent from Hawaii. We were so happy. The girls are in flowered skirts, but my mother is wearing cream colored suit, to compliment her curves. Cut on the bias with a sculpted lapel, it is almost too stylish for Kirksville, Missouri. Where did you get the suit? I ask, and she replies, If I'm wearing it, I made it. She made her wedding gown, regretted the purchase of a headpiece, but there was no time! They had their lives to catch up on.The ivory gown was lost among many moves, but the cutlery and the kitchenware that my father brought home from the Navy, each piece labeled USN, They used for a lifetime—mixing shortcake, stirring the soup, buttering the biscuits that came out of the oven so hot they were impossible to hold. My father would laugh as he tossed one from hand to hand, saying, It doesn't get any better than this! AN: Thank you. What a fine example of a narrative poem. Before we share your "Nature's Narratives," is there a question that I didn't ask you that you wish I had or anything about your poetic life you might like to share with our readers before we turn to your poems? CE: Here is a response that I wrote recently for a local group that is putting together an anthology. They wanted to know “Why” you write poetry. I write poetry because I want to find out what I am thinking about. I am not one of those little girls who wrote poetry even in grade school, and yet I always knew that I could write. It was sort of a default way of thinking for me. I came to poetry after first trying fiction, which I found frustrating and difficult, because I kept fiddling with the individual sentences instead of getting into the narrative. So, narrative poetry became a transition between fiction and poetry for me. I don’t have the patience to sit down and write a novel. The only novel that I ever wrote I converted into poems, and I felt much more satisfied with the results. My son is a successful fiction writer, and I am sure he throws out more in one sitting than I do in a month of twizzling with a poem. I am also antsy and can’t sit still for long periods of time, so I often memorize things that I am working on and rewrite while I’m walking. That may be another reason that I am drawn to nature poetry—a walk with the dog always clears my head and gives me an opportunity to rework troublesome wording. The squirrels really don’t care about your problems, and the dog has grown accustomed to my mumbling. AN: This has been a delight to converse with you, Cathy. I hope that you will participate in our ACT TWO feature in 2024–2025 that we offer our previously published poets. I am astonished by your many levels of interest in nature and life that we have barely touched on in this flash interview. We will be eager to invite you back to our Flapper Press Poetry Café in the future. CE: Thank you, Annie, and Flapper Press, for letting me talk about the things that inspire nature poetry. The backstory on this poem is pretty much what happens in the poem! A cardinal hit our winter window and fell, head first, into a snow bank. I went out to see if he was still alive. He was cold and stunned but turned his head to look at me. I put him in a container—the closest thing at hand was a cake box! I brought him in to warm up, assuming the worst. About an hour later, I heard motion in the box and lifted the lid slightly to see if he was on his feet. I should have known better, because he immediately saw that sliver of light and bolted out of the box. He flew through every room of the house, the dog following in amazement, until I could get ahead of him and open a large patio door. He flew to the top of a very large maple tree and began to sing his heart out. He had a story to tell, and I was glad to be part of it. There are all kinds of superstitions about birds in the house, but this fellow's intensity was remarkable, and until I held them in my hand I don't think I realized how red a male cardinal could be, and it was February, the Valentine month. Red Bird The cardinal that I rescued from a snow bank is now proselytizing from the top of the maple. I hope he is mentioning the warmth of the house, the fancy new birdfeeder with sunflower seed and the heated water bowl on the patio. I suspect he is talking mostly about himself, like most of the converts that I have met, as if their revelations might be passed on like a simple communion, since none of us can depend upon being God-smacked by a window, or expect a warming hand to lift us from the cold. We have to make do with whatever falls our way. And yet, today I held a red bird in my hand, feathers askew, topknot blown to one side, brighter than a valentine taped to the closet door. In truth, I could have held him all day, made him a familiar at my window sill. But I know he should be singing for his mate, advertising his prowess, promising to defend their nest. I hope she will not find him wanting, can warm to his exuberance, is not offended by his urgency, or the new longing in his song that only I can hear. I volunteer at a local rehab center where people bring foundlings—little squirrels, rabbits, opossums, skunks, ducklings, fox, turtles, bats, ground hogs, weasels . . . almost anything that has been broken or abandoned. We take them in, try to repair the damage done by their encounters with civilization. Many can be rehabbed and eventually released back into the wild. Some, of course, cannot, and it makes you realize how much Nature over-provides. Trust me—there are plenty of squirrels and rabbits in the Midwest. Very few of the animals that come our way are endangered, and yet we take them all because even starlings and grackles deserve a second chance. This says more about people, of course, than it does about the wildlife, but I like what it says. Casualties Brukner Nature Center, Troy, Ohio April, and already the Spring casualties are arriving. Blown from their nests, abandoned in attics, broken from falls, they all arrive cold and hungry with a story to tell. If they share their fears, take comfort in each other, we have no way of knowing— they are mouths to be fed. The nestling spreads his wings and cannot keep his balance, but his mouth opens steady as a flame. We poke insect paste down his throat. How easily we imitate a mother's bill. He eats and poops and sleeps--the perfect baby, except for his hunger which arrives like forgiveness every twenty minutes. Designed to survive, they cry and squirm and accept the world that is given to them. The albino tumbles with his siblings in a Tupperware nest. He does not imagine himself unique. The turtle with the broken shell accepts his medicine as if it were his lot to open his mouth and swallow things whole. They have no way of knowing that they are expendable, that they are working the odds, that Nature always over provides. A knock on the door and another litter arrives—kits laced so tightly in the bottom of a box they are impossible to count. This poem was previously published at Innisfree Poetry Journal. This poem was written in early fall during the pandemic when we were all staying pretty close to home. I raise butterflies, mostly Monarchs, hoping to preserve the migration from the Midwest to Mexico. Monarchs are the only butterflies that migrate, and we are in endanger of losing the migration because we have destroyed most of the milkweed with Round Up Ready crops. Milkweed is the only plant that Monarch caterpillars can feed on. Raising butterflies mostly involves creating a space with native plants, free from pesticides and lawn chemicals. In this poem, I am actually waiting for some Black Swallowtail caterpillars to form their chrysalis for the winter. They do not migrate and are not endangered. They spend the winter in some kind of suspended state before emerging in the spring. I am offering them a safe place to overwinter once they are ready to form a chrysalis. I have written a chapbook about raising Monarchs titled Wings, or Does the Caterpillar Dream of Flight? I donate the proceeds from this chapbook to Monarch preservation sites, such as Journey North, and to our local rehab center. I write a lot about animals and try not to personify them too obviously. A well-known poet once told me to "never personify animals" because it would make me read like a Disney movie. I think I have spent a good part of my writing career trying to prove him wrong! I actually have a poem that addresses that up at Poetry Foundation website titled "My Dog Practices Geometry." I have not included it here because it has been reprinted quite a bit. I Ask the Caterpillars about Meditation The caterpillars in the garden have eaten all of the dill and are moving on to the parsley. Every morning I go out to ask if they are ready for a hand into the future, and every morning they reply, Just a bit longer . . . But nights are getting cold, and I remind them that I've saved a place for them to pass the winter, suspended in chrysalis, protected from mice and unseasonal warmth. All I want in return is to ask them how they fold in, infinitely, upon themselves, and go into a meditation so deep that time is no longer a constant. But mostly, I want their advice on how to return in the spring as a changeling, where everything is familiar--the dizzying mix of sun and shadow, the breeze that stirs the linden--and yet nothing is ever quite the same Click to hear audio of Cathryn Essinger read her poem "Fractals in November, or Why All Things Remain the Same" Annie Klier Newcomer founded a not-for-profit, Kansas City Spirit, that served children in metropolitan Kansas for a decade. Annie volunteers in chess and poetry after-school programs in Kansas City, Missouri. She and her husband, David, and the staff of the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens are working to develop The Emily Dickinson Garden in hopes of bringing art and poetry educational programs to their community. Annie helms the Flapper Press Poetry Café—dedicated to celebrating poets from around the world and to encouraging everyone to both read and write poetry! If you enjoyed this Flash Poet interview, we invite you to explore more here! The Flapper Press Poetry Café Presenting a wide range of poetry with a mission to promote a love and understanding of poetry for all. We welcome submissions for compelling poetry and look forward to publishing and supporting your creative endeavors. Submissions may also be considered for the Pushcart Prize. Please review our Guidelines before submitting! Submission Guidelines

By Flapper Press Poetry Café: The Flapper Press Poetry Café continues a new series of articles about favorite lines of poetry and the poets who wrote them. We’re reaching out to poets, writers, and lovers of poetry to submit their favorite lines of poetry and tell us why you love them. Check out our submission guidelines and send us your favorites! We'll feature your submission sometime this year on our site! This week, our submission comes from Annie Newcomer on behalf of her late friend, John Powell Hastings. From Annie Newcomer: My friend John Hastings was in a solstice group with my husband and I. We met twice each year with our old running buddies to welcome in the new year and summer solstice. John died this summer. He will be greatly missed. I had asked him at our summer solstice to share his favorite poetry lines. This is his message to me and his selection. It is not lost on me that John could have himself written "How Do I Love Thee?" for his wife, Melanie, who he loved dearly. Rest in peace, dear Limerick Meister. From John Powell Hastings: Annie, you mentioned sonnets when we met Monday for Solstice Gathering, which reminded me of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's famous sonnet "How do I love thee, let me count the ways." In a devotional [that] Melanie (John’s wife) shared with me about the need to forgive was the account of Elizabeth's father, who did not want his children to marry. She married Robert Browning. He never forgave her or even read the countless letters of love she wrote him. This link tells that brief, sad story, which is a lesson for us to forgive, or the wonderful love from others might never reach us. So my choice of favorite poetry lines is: How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnet 43) How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of being and ideal grace. I love thee to the level of every day’s Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light. I love thee freely, as men strive for right. To read more about Elizabeth Barrett Browning: Poetry Foundation - Elizabeth Barrett Browning Poetry.org - Elizabeth Barrett Browning To read more poetry by Elizabeth Barrett Browning: Poetry of Elizabeth Barrett Browning John Powell Hastings Bio (from his obituary) John saw his law practice in estate planning as an opportunity to serve people and tried to keep families together at the difficult time of death. There were several years he also helped with a number of adoptions. Bering very pro-life, John called adoption “happy law.” John was very witty. He started writing five-line limericks years ago. They came together easily in his head. When he did cardiac rehab after heart stents at St. Luke’s Hospital, John wrote a couple of limericks for his rehab team. They framed the limericks and displayed them at their front desk. People enjoyed John’s sense of humor. For his bio to Flapper Press, he wrote this limerick: A son, a grandson, nephew & dad of a preacher. If that’s not enough, I am married to a teacher. Along the way I got my MBA. Prior to that was a CPA. Now you’ve been limericked by a lawyer-creature. Annie Klier Newcomer founded a not-for-profit, Kansas City Spirit, that served children in metropolitan Kansas for a decade. Annie volunteers in chess and poetry after-school programs in Kansas City, Missouri. She and her husband, David, and the staff of the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens are working to develop The Emily Dickinson Garden in hopes of bringing art and poetry educational programs to their community. Annie helms the Flapper Press Poetry Café—dedicated to celebrating poets from around the world and to encouraging everyone to both read and write poetry! If you enjoyed this Flash Poet interview, we invite you to explore more here! The Flapper Press Poetry Café Presenting a wide range of poetry with a mission to promote a love and understanding of poetry for all. We welcome submissions for compelling poetry and look forward to publishing and supporting your creative endeavors. Submissions may also be considered for the Pushcart Prize. Please review our Guidelines before submitting! Submission Guidelines

By Ron Standridge: I can’t remember the first time I was exposed to the concept of drag as entertainment. Growing up, I have fond memories of that “Waskly Wabbit” Bugs Bunny donning a dress at the drop of a hat to avoid detection by that “Gullible Gunman” Elmer Fudd. And, you needn’t have been the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree to realize that Minnie Mouse was simply Mickey Mouse with a fiercely fashionable bow on his head. As a child of the late 1960s and early 1970s, I also have memories of watching Milton Berle and Bob Hope—legendary comics who would do anything for a laugh—dressing up and pretending to be ladies and getting giggles from generations older than mine. Yet another, albeit younger, comedian following in their tradition was Flip Wilson, whose bawdy and brassy character of "Geraldine" became one of the signature bits of his popular television show. I do vividly remember, though, the first time I became aware of drag—the art of illusion—as entertainment. It was 1978, and I was not yet 11 years old on that winter’s night in January when I saw Jim Bailey perform as Judy Garland as part of The People’s Command Performance on CBS. I was transfixed. Even at that age, I knew who Judy Garland was: she was Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, a movie I waited impatiently to watch each year as its annual television showing rolled around as part of national holiday celebrations. What’s more, I knew that Judy Garland was dead. But there she was, introduced by no less than Jed Clampett (or Barnaby Jones, take your pick), alive and well and encouraging all to “Forget your troubles and just get happy!” I needed to figure this out. Luckily, my mother was watching with me, and she patiently explained what I was witnessing. “Do you remember the man who was singing right before that?” my mother asked. I did. "Well, his name is Jim Bailey,” she said. “Do you remember when he finished singing, he went to backstage to change clothes?” I did, because that was when they switched to showing Judy Garland putting on her makeup in the mirror. “That wasn’t Judy Garland,” she said. “That was Jim Bailey putting on makeup to make himself look like Judy Garland.” What? But he’s a man. And she’s a woman. “Yes,” was her simple, straightforward reply. I was confused. “He is still a man, but with a little makeup and a wig, he can look like a woman,” my mother explained, without an ounce of judgement or distaste. But that was Judy Garland’s voice. “No, that was Jim Bailey’s voice, sounding like Judy Garland,” said my mom. My mom knew—and still knows—everything. “Do you remember seeing Rich Little on TV?” asked Mom. Rich Little was “The Man of a Thousand Voices,” a prominent comedian and impressionist who was a fixture on the television variety and game show circuit of the 1960s and 1970s. “Do you remember how Rich Little can make himself sound like George Burns or Jimmy Carter or Cary Grant?” she asked. I did. “Well, do you remember when he made himself sound like Carol Channing?” she asked. I did. (And, yes, even at 10 years old, I was very familiar with the names she was mentioning, perhaps one of the earlier indications of my eventual proclivities.) “That’s what Jim Bailey does,” she said. “He’s an impressionist. But where Rich Little may put on a pair of glasses when he does Jack Benny’s voice or smoke a cigar when he does George Burns’ voice, Jim Bailey puts on a wig and makeup when he does Judy Garland’s voice. That’s all.” And that was all. There were no hysterics, no fear of indoctrination, no mention of homosexuality or suggestion of transvestism. Just admiration of a talent and the tools used to present it on primetime network television in 1978. Jim Bailey was a remarkable artist, and female impersonation was merely one of the tools in his arsenal. Best known for his breathtaking and eerily accurate illusions of Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand, Bailey got his start doing his equally impressive characterization of Phyllis Diller. Among the other characters in his collection were Peggy Lee, Bette Davis, Tallulah Bankhead, Mae West, Marilyn Monroe, and Madonna. Bailey first gained prominence in the 1960s and became a major draw on the Las Vegas casino scene, where he not only performed as but sometimes even with the legendary ladies he imitated. Both Diller and Garland befriended Bailey, occasionally taking to the stage to swap jokes or share a song. Later, after Garland’s death, Bailey famously shared the stage with Liza Minnelli, who agreed to recreate some of her and her mother’s famous duets. During his heyday, Bailey was a frequent guest on talk and variety shows such as The Ed Sullivan Show, The Dean Martin Show, The Carol Burnett Show, The Merv Griffin Show, The Mike Douglas Show, The Joan Rivers Show, Late Night with David Letterman, and The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. As an actor, Bailey (and his ladies) was also featured in guest roles on programs such as Here’s Lucy, The Rockford Files, Switch, Vega$, Night Court, and Ally McBeal. Although Bailey died of cardiac arrest and pneumonia in 2015, my memory of seeing him for the first time lives as fresh—and as captivating—in my mind as ever. The proof is in the YouTube. An award-winning writer and publicist, Ron Standridge is an Arkansas native and veteran communications professional. A graduate of the University of Central Arkansas, Ron spent 18 years as public relations coordinator at CARTI Inc., and has also served as communications director for the Arkansas Community Foundation and director of alumni and constituent relations at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. He is now the owner of Write Away, Ron Communications and Public Relations. As a team member at My Ideal Music, Inc., Ron works closely with the estate of singer Margaret Whiting to promote and preserve the legacies of the legendary Whiting Family. A former director of the Miss Gay Arkansas America Pageant, Ron is also a noted drag archivist specializing in the history of Miss Gay America and is currently co-producing NATURAL STATE OF DRAG—a documentary feature about the history of drag in Arkansas.

By Angel Lopez: How often have you heard that it’s a time for transformation only to feel like the same version of yourself two weeks, months or even decades later? You can’t help but to start to think that you may be bad at personal evolution, like you’re out of sync with nature’s rhythms or off your path. The truth is, growth comes in a variety of forms. It doesn’t always appear like it does on TV, when a character has some powerful revelation scored to a Sia song and they make a grand decision to quit or leave town, never to return again. Your own personal growth can at times be minuscule. It’s a subtle choice at the grocery store. A different response to a usual question. Or a kind acknowledgement to yourself in the mirror. Sometimes, it’s even rushing past a mirror when an old you would’ve paused to criticize. In reality, you’re in constant transformation. The You of yesterday is a figment of the past, never to return again. And every day has its own separate lesson plan. Now sometimes you may find yourself repeating mistakes or poor choices, but you’re also probably deepening your inner sense of those decisions, reminding yourself that you know this is a bad idea but you’re gonna do it anyway. Each of those reminders helps to chip away at the strength that those habits, mentalities or toxic relationships have on you, shifting the energy one bit at a time. Well, all of those subtle shifts are ready to add up, and they want to help you tip the scales toward the work you’re meant to be doing, both in the world and within. This Scorpio Season offers you a transformation you can count on. There will be no going back in regards to some aspect of your life. Permanent change is afoot and it’s time. You owe it to yourself to make a commitment to some type of change that’s been calling to you for far too long. And you can also notice what commitments are no longer alive for you. Remember, you don’t owe it to anyone to stay the same. Now I know this slightly contradicts the idea that change is subtly occurring all the time. But that is true, and you must recognize that in order to see the lovely work you’ve already put in to grow. But this moment right here, it is one of those main character energy moments when you make the change. So if you’re feeling challenged, put on that Sia song and get to it. Read for your Sun sign, but also check your Rising if you know it. ARIES You have a commitment right now to your identity. It’s time to lay out everything that contributes to the definition of You. Are all these pieces in pure alignment with the purpose you know in your spirit is meant for you? Perhaps you’ve become too closely associated with a job that has nothing to do with your passion. Or it could be that a relationship you’re in is presenting a false narrative of two peas in a pod when you want nothing more than to eject. It could just be that you’ve outgrown aspects of your personality that are now holding you back from being taken more seriously in your goals and accomplishments. Pay close attention to who and what fills your days. Those answers reveal the current definition of you, and now is the time to remove any everyday obstacles that get in the way of moving toward your dreams. This will help you re-engage with a greater sense of self-respect and confidence. TAURUS You have a commitment right now to your spirituality. It’s begging you to engage with it in a more meaningful way, one that isn’t just in passing or performative. It wants you to whisper secret desires to your spirit guides. To ask your dreams to reveal truths that your conscious mind can’t seem to find. To put greater faith in the Universe and vulnerably ask for its guidance and support. You can practice by also doing some of these things with some of your closest friends and loved ones. It can be part of your nature to not engage too deeply with people in your life, as it seems draining or too emotionally consuming. You know that you’d rather just chill, so wouldn’t they want the same instead of listening to your issues. Push yourself to open up more to the people you trust and love and then watch how the Universe beefs up its presence in your life too. GEMINI You have a commitment right now to your hopes and dreams. That doesn’t have to just look like some moments of whimsy, staring up and sending wishes to the stars. But please note that I said “just”, because you certainly can sing sweet nothings to the cosmos when it comes to your desires. You just also need to make some shifts to your daily life that’ll support the dreams as well. Perhaps some of the habits haven’t been the most supportive in getting you closer to what you want to manifest. This can come in the form of missing rituals, alternating days between loving and hating your body or constantly being late and blaming anyone or anything but your own lack of time management skills. It’s time to take some greater responsibility in how you show up for your career goals and sense of greater purpose in this world. For you, life is a playground, but it may be time to jump off the swing and get back to work. CANCER You have a commitment right now to your path. Maybe you’ve felt a little untethered from your usual self, which has offered up some opportunities to engage with parts of you or the world that you normally wouldn’t fully open up to. But there’s a ton of creative fire wanting to come through, and if you can focus and pair it with your ambition, you will find yourself to be rather unstoppable. Try shifting your relationship to your inner child and give it a turn in the driver’s seat. What ideas would make the little kid in you wild with excitement? Ask them their opinion the next time you have to decide something career or goal related. They’ll want to know if your choices lead to fun. It’s not always important in the adult world to prioritize having a good time, but the current energies really want you to do so and that’ll help you to feel more comfortable in your life, in general. LEO You have a commitment right now to your personal philosophy. How you craft and express your deepest beliefs about the world is of great importance, as it will help to better define what matters to you and how you engage with others. It can be occasionally easy to hold your opinions or ideas back, but now it’s necessary for you to utilize your voice in a way that feels more connected to your heart. You don’t have to hurt anyone’s feelings but you also don’t have to make their feelings your job. If you’re communicating from a clear place and with a sense of integrity, then you can feel confident knowing that you’re honoring the other person with your sincere honesty. You like to engage with the world and have meaningful intentions for your life, but if you’re making yourself small in any way, your existence won’t register on the map. And we need you in all your special grandeur. VIRGO You have a commitment right now to your shadow side. Use this time to have a deep talk with the parts of yourself that you suppress or hold shame around. Perhaps they’re feeling neglected, causing you to act out in ways that don’t truly reflect your actual feelings or intentions. They also just might need some major confrontation, allowing you the recognition that it’s time to let go of outdated childhood fears or traumas. Even if you can’t fully release them, you may be able to evolve your relationship with them, moving you further away from being the one who needs to be healed to the healer. A lot of this process is mental, as most of your processes tend to be. But this time, I encourage you to take a less critical and cynical approach. What if you met yourself with more grace, a sense of greater optimism and a pat on the back for facing the demons that you’ve already slain? In essence, love yourself even more. LIBRA You have a commitment right now to your devoted sweethearts. The ones who own a cozy space in your heart deserve all the attention because they’re the ones getting you through. But part of giving to them is giving yourself permission to let them see all of you, which can be a scary prospect. Given your tendency toward appearances, if the feelings you’re holding aren’t pretty, you might just hold them tighter rather than show them to another. Use this time to challenge yourself to be more of you with the ones you love. If they’ve made it this far into your life, they’ve probably met your challenging side already. And what you’re currently not showing them may not even be that scary. If you want to quit your job or move or date a gender you haven’t before, they’ll love you through it. And if they don’t, then you’ve won the gift of releasing someone who doesn’t deserve your heart, making room for someone who does. SCORPIO You have a commitment right now to your well-being. Dedicate your energies to being the baddest, most consistent and boldest version of you. Find ways to share your passion with a wider world. Don’t just be privately overwhelmed by your emotions. Instead find ways to express them to others in ways that surprise them, and yourself. Perform an action each day that honors the core of you, being anything from a hike to a manicure to a four-hour meditation and ritual. Insert more intention into your routines, making them less chore and more manifestation spell. Take up a new or long abandoned creative hobby that you can compulsively obsess over when you’re supposed to be focused on work. Be the first one to talk at your next group event or meeting. And expand so much further into who you always wanted to be to the point that you have to dream up a new version of who you always wanted to be. SAGITTARIUS You have a commitment right now to your contentment. How can you give less of yourself away to others, reserving more energy and space for your own joys and interests? It can be hard for you to do, as you’re the one who likes to connect, to assist and to experience with the intention of greater personal growth. But it’s time to retreat from others in a way that doesn’t alienate you but rather shows that you take your own needs and pleasure more seriously. And truthfully, you kinda need to send that message to yourself more than to anyone else. Your dreams deserve more attention, but if you don’t have the energy to give to them, then they’ll only be half-assed. And the execution of them, even worse. So make time to delve more deeply into yourself and explore where it is you want to be headed for this next chapter. And then also begin the shifts that will take you there. CAPRICORN You have a commitment right now to your ancestors. That may seem like the weightiest responsibility ever bestowed, but what it really means is to consider your roots and those that came before you. What is your connection to your own personal history? If it’s a bad one, how can you begin to resolve that in a way that allows you to see beyond any trauma or pain? You may reveal connections to parts of you that you had a slight awareness of but didn’t know was an actual birthright. You may also find that you’re acting out from old wounds of your younger self. And these ways of being in the world is unknowingly affecting your reputation, keeping some from wanting to fully connect with you. It’s when you’ve built a wall up and don’t even know it. Have some more awareness around how you engage with the people in your life and keep in mind that your hope is to do your ancestors proud. AQUARIUS You have a commitment right now to your mind. All of your career goals and aspirations are tied to the clarity of your mentality. It’s imperative that you clear out any thought patterns or ideologies that are cluttering your forward progress. You’re incredibly smart, but you can’t always outwit your subconscious, which also shows up in creative ways to keep you procrastinating and spiraling in mental circles. There’s also some self-worth that may not be fully operational. Even if you think you have a strong sense of confidence, there may be some inner demons that are cunningly keeping you small or slow in your process. Do what you can to dial into a greater level of self-love to help bolster your belief in your own integrity. You’re on the path to being greater than you’ve ever been, but it’s going to come with some healthy sacrifices. Gone must be the crutches, as you’re more healed than you think. It’s time to start running into the future. PISCES You have a commitment right now to your resources. What or who do you currently have available to you that you can utilize to achieve your goals? And what do you need more of in your life and how can you attain it? It’s not always easy for you to go after what you want. You sometimes need a little more approval or support than others. But with the proper assets on your side, you can achieve anything. Lean into calling upon helpful loved ones or colleagues when you need assistance. Focus your spending towards things and experiences that strengthen your skills and encourage the work you want to be doing. Explore long-held interests with surprising amounts of gusto and take classes or workshops that will make you feel more confident in your greater objectives. Make your life and the world one giant classroom, full of invaluable study partners, homework of your own choosing and a broadening of your knowledge about what you love and how to do more of it in this lifetime. Angel Lopez is a film producer, writer, astrologer, and co-host of the podcast, THE SPIRITUAL GAYZ alongside his husband, our Spiritual Guru Brandon Alter. Angel has been studying and working with both tarot and astrology for twenty years. He hosted the astrology web-series, ASTRO TALK WITH ANGEL, and writes the blog ASTROLOGY REALNESS. He has also had pieces published on Upworthy.com and The Huffington Post. On the film side, Angel produced the Sundance Film Festival award winning film DEAR WHITE PEOPLE, as well as the features THE DINNER and STATE LIKE SLEEP. He also wrote and directed his own short film, I CAN’T WITH YOU, which had its premiere at the 2016 HollyShorts Film Festival, and he recently finished producing filmmaker Justin Simien’s second feature, BAD HAIR. Visit www.thespiritualgayz.com to learn more. To sign up for The Spiritual Gayz newsletter click here.

By Annie Newcomer: The Flapper Press Café features the work of poets from all over the world. This week, we are happy to welcome Anna Banasiak to talk about her poetry and passions. Anna Banasiak is a poet, writer, and occupational therapist who loves helping people through art therapy. She is the winner of many poetry competitions in London, Berlin, Bratislava, and Kamena. She publishes books of poetry in India and Japan and belongs to the Japan Poets Association in Kyoto. Her poems have also been published in New York, London, Surrey, Australia, Canada, Africa, China, Cuba, and Israel. Please meet Anna Banasiak! AN: Anna, welcome to the Flapper Press Poetry Café. What in your childhood might you be willing to share that set you on a road that included writing poetry? AB: I was a very sensitive child. My father used to read me stories, poems, and fairy tales, and I remember reciting fairy tales by heart. I also loved to draw and write on a piece of paper, it was was my secret, magical key of imagination, the way to forget sorrows and create new fantastic worlds. AN: You wrote to Flapper Press, "I taste life with the language of metaphysics.” Help us understand more fully what this means. And in being embedded in the abstract, such as “being,” “knowing,” and “cause,” do you ever worry that this focus on what cannot be concretely touched will limit your writing in any way? Please explain. AB: Studies in philosophy taught me how to "taste life with the language of metaphysics." AN: Please share the ways that helping people with art therapy through your profession as an occupational therapist provide inspiration for your writing. And does it ever work the other way around? Does your poetry provide inspiration for you professionally? AB: I love my work. This is a sense that gives me joy every day; I'm learning humility and discipline. AN: You shared that "The tree is a metaphysical universe for me, the essence of poetry and the quintessence of suffering." I immediately thought of the Banyan Tree in Lahaina. This tree was only 8 feet tall when it was planted in 1873. At the time of the recent fire, it was 60 feet tall, and through all the devastation caused by the fire, people draw hope in the news that this tree might survive. Why do you believe this is true? And why are symbols important to humanity? Will you or have you already written a poem on this tree? AB: Symbols are important to humanity because they're universal and they help to understand things. I feel like a tree, because there is a tree of life in each of us, immortal, the tree is a metaphysical universe for me, the essence of poetry and the quintessence of suffering. I think I'll write a poem on this tree! AN: How might you describe your writer’s “voice”? Does it ever change, or does it remain relatively the same? AB: My "voice" changes as time passes. Over the next years, I [am] gaining new experience. AN: If you could chose any publication to have your poetry showcased in that has not already published your work, which would it be? And why? AB: I think it would be Depression and Art Therapy because they show how poetic metaphysics can "heal our souls" and have therapeutic action. I'm a poet and occupational therapist. I love helping people through art therapy. I taste life with the language of metaphysics. AN: Please, ask yourself a question that intrigues you that only you would know to ask about your poetry and then answer. AB: Does my poetry reach directly into the hearts of people? I hope so. AN: Thank you for visiting us in our Flapper Press Poetry Café. Please share 3 poems with their backstories for our readers. Thank you! I wrote this poem as a reflection on the sense of existence. Writing can be magical and leads to transformation of our minds. Coming back to childhood can be therapeutic and a dreamy place where we can hide our fears and start an amazing journey through time and imagination. Loneliness is an artistic soul. Love is a spiritual source from which we draw the meaning of existence and life energy. It keeps us balanced and drives to action. Annie Klier Newcomer founded a not-for-profit, Kansas City Spirit, that served children in metropolitan Kansas for a decade. Annie volunteers in chess and poetry after-school programs in Kansas City, Missouri. She and her husband, David, and the staff of the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens are working to develop The Emily Dickinson Garden in hopes of bringing art and poetry educational programs to their community. Annie helms the Flapper Press Poetry Café—dedicated to celebrating poets from around the world and to encouraging everyone to both read and write poetry! If you enjoyed this Flash Poet interview, we invite you to explore more here! The Flapper Press Poetry Café Presenting a wide range of poetry with a mission to promote a love and understanding of poetry for all. We welcome submissions for compelling poetry and look forward to publishing and supporting your creative endeavors. Submissions may also be considered for the Pushcart Prize. Please review our Guidelines before submitting! Submission Guidelines