• Elena Agostino
• William Bell
• Michelle Bodnar
• J. Bull
• Liz Clark
• Gary James
• Diana Fox
• Meagan Gartlan
• Dale Lee Kwong
• Christopher Lawrence
• Moments & Monuments
• Wendy Morton
• Brenden Joel Reid
• David Yawek Ross
• Wendi Seskus-James
• Matt Smith
• Swail

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Last Updated April 16, 2009

 

Jugular by William Bell

In the 1800s, scientist Itard took in a feral child who had been found roaming the woods in Aveyron, France. Eleven-year-old Victor, as he was named, was able to learn basic social skills, and even demonstrated compassion. But he was never able to learn speech. Itard felt that he had failed. At a time when scientists were studying what separated humans from animals, Victor was never deemed fully human because of his failure to communicate.

The Jugular -- a major vein in the neck that returns blood from the head -- is a life force, that once cut, severs life. This area in the neck is also the seat of the fifth chakra, an energy system related to self-expression, communication, and self-will. It is where language is expressed. It is where self-expression originates. And it connects the head and the heart. If we take Victor’s story one step further, we might say that one must express oneself in order to be fully human.

The Veins of other Flowers
The Scarlet Flowers are
Till Nature leisure has for Terms
As "Branch," and "Jugular."

We pass, and she abides.
We conjugate Her Skill
While She creates and federates
Without a syllable.

(Emily Dickinson )

In this issue:

• Well read: is what you'll be after reading new works from Wendy Morton, Dale Lee Kwong, Matt Smith and much more!
• A feast for the eyes: eleven images from from seven artists, including Meagan Gartlan, Diana Fox and William Bell.
• New music: from Moments and Monuments and Swail.

Special thank yous:

• Thank you Michelle Bodnar for your work as the Words Editor.
• Thank you to the Editing Board for edits to this issue: Dale Lee Kwong, Matt Smith, Michelle Bodnar.
• Thank you Wendy Morton for supporting splinterswerve and sending it along with her Planet Poetry newsletter.
• Thank you to all those who have joined the splinterswerve group on facebook. Please join!

Wendi Seskus-James, editor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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