Ken Wagner and J. Ryan Bermuda, from Volume 2:1

Ken Wagner is a  poet hailing from Seattle, Washington who also works as a volunteer poetry teacher. He has studied under David Wagoner for the last three years. Wagner's poetry is intimate, illuminating, and sonorous.

from "How I Heard It"

                    my Aunt was mad at everyone she didn't know

                    especially if they weren't Roman Catholic

                                                        ...                        

                              there were ten cans of frozen grapefruit juice

                              in her freezer   enough to poison the whole family

  

                                   *                    *                    *   

from "Blame Rain"

                    Coltrane would surround

                    the rain

                    with sheets of sound to placate the trees        

           

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J. Ryan Bermuda resides in Redlands, California. His experiences as a foster parent have inspired his upcoming poetry manuscript From Hell to Breakfast. Bermuda's poetry contains imagery so striking that it practically leaves the mind reeling.

from "Wolf Peach"

                    They carried brass

                    Zippos before knowing the risks

                                   the universe is

                                              expanding

                                   ...

                    bike seat vinyl powdered

                    and frayed exposing bisque yellow foam 

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These brief excerpts do not do justice to Wagner and Bermuda. See for yourself in Synesthesia Literary Journal Volume 2:1!