Breath & Shadow
A Journal of Disability Culture and Literature
A Journal of Disability Culture and Literature
Breath & Shadow is a quarterly journal of disability culture and literature. A project of AbilityMaine, . . . written and edited entirely by people with disabilities. . . . [I]n Breath & Shadow you will find poetry, fiction, essays, interviews, drama, and other writing that examines the human experience of living with disability — in every single issue.
The editors of Breath & Shadow believe that personhood in the land of disability can and should be presented in its multiplicity. Thus, diversity of writing style, content, genre, and category, as well as author demographics, is a goal for each issue. . . . [O]ur journal showcases writing by people with disabilities in all its power, complexity, and breadth. . . . [W]e feature writing by children and adults; people with physical, mental, emotional, and sensory disabilities; and new/emergent and established writers.
Sample:
A Road Not Chosen
A spider web
reaches
curves
arches
from one point
to different ends,
f o r m s
shapes - hearts, angles, triangles,
roads to the outside
I weave a life
from stories spun
of roads taken
in my life --
some not chosen --
traumatic brain injury
when I hit my head --
hard
in a car accident
knocked out
in a coma
no one knew
what would be left of me.
I spin inwards after TBI
till I hit the center mark,
golden goodness of my source.
When I get back out -
side
through poetry,
I will find my way back
to the web
of life on earth.
Louise Mathewson holds a Masters degree in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University in Chicago. An author and poet, her work has appeared in numerous publications including Wordgathering: Journal of Disability Poetry, Cup of Comfort (Vol. 1), Mochila Review, Boulder County Kid and Sasee magazines and internationally in Borderlines '08, an anthology published by the University of Portsmouth, United Kingdom. Louise has always loved to write about the sacred moments in everyday experiences, but today those experiences hold even deeper meaning. In January 2003 Louise emerged from a two-week coma following an auto-accident in which she suffered a traumatic brain injury. Though a struggle at first, Louise resumed writing as soon as she was able. Today she lives with her husband in Eden Prairie, Minnesota where she continues to write and recover.
The editors of Breath & Shadow believe that personhood in the land of disability can and should be presented in its multiplicity. Thus, diversity of writing style, content, genre, and category, as well as author demographics, is a goal for each issue. . . . [O]ur journal showcases writing by people with disabilities in all its power, complexity, and breadth. . . . [W]e feature writing by children and adults; people with physical, mental, emotional, and sensory disabilities; and new/emergent and established writers.
Sample:
A Road Not Chosen
A spider web
reaches
curvesarches
from one point
to different ends,
f o r m s
shapes - hearts, angles, triangles,
roads to the outside
I weave a life
from stories spun
of roads taken
in my life --
some not chosen --
traumatic brain injury
when I hit my head --
hard
in a car accident
knocked out
in a coma
no one knew
what would be left of me.
I spin inwards after TBI
till I hit the center mark,
golden goodness of my source.
When I get back out -
side
through poetry,
I will find my way back
to the web
of life on earth.
Louise Mathewson holds a Masters degree in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University in Chicago. An author and poet, her work has appeared in numerous publications including Wordgathering: Journal of Disability Poetry, Cup of Comfort (Vol. 1), Mochila Review, Boulder County Kid and Sasee magazines and internationally in Borderlines '08, an anthology published by the University of Portsmouth, United Kingdom. Louise has always loved to write about the sacred moments in everyday experiences, but today those experiences hold even deeper meaning. In January 2003 Louise emerged from a two-week coma following an auto-accident in which she suffered a traumatic brain injury. Though a struggle at first, Louise resumed writing as soon as she was able. Today she lives with her husband in Eden Prairie, Minnesota where she continues to write and recover.
No comments:
Post a Comment