Issue 19

NewMyths.com

A quarterly ezine by a community of writers, poets and artists.

Issue 19, June 1, 2012

Dear Readers,

If you think our world is falling to pieces, wait until you see what our authors have cooked up in their imaginary playgrounds! You'll be glad you're here, wherever "here" is for you.

Enjoy,

Scott T. Barnes, Editor

Table of Contents

Fiction

Kakitsu by M. Bennardo

There is a story that was told in times long past about two brothers that aspired to join a monastery situated in the mountains above their small village in Japan. These monks were not Buddhist, nor Jainist, nor Vaishnava, nor Christian. They had their own beliefs and practices, of which I will tell more of later. But generally they pursued four tasks.

In Which Marper Visits a Witch by Ellen Denham

Marper trudged through the gutter-slime at the road's edge, making way for the carriage thundering past. The muck couldn't make his feet any worse than they already were. It was about time to get them cured. Larya had thrown him out of the brothel because of the smell. The new witch was supposed to live on this road somewhere. He'd heard how she cured old Budgel's bad leg, though it cost him twelve crowns and a chicken. Marper had enough coin to pay her. Stole it from the temple box yesterday. Probably last time he could do that, because the younger priestess was onto him.

The Optimist Police by Sarina Dorie

Tony had done a good job faking optimism most of his life, but recently with the new surge in Optimist Force technology, he’d been caught twice. The first time at a restaurant, the second in a theater. As if the acting in the movie hadn’t been bad enough to ruin his date, the police trampling over theatergoers to get to him wasn’t exactly a romantic way to end the evening.

Freight Train by Louise Hughes

Loca peeled back the duct tape holding the CD drawer closed, balanced her little finger against the eject button and carefully inserted the screwdriver under the drawer. Her bottom lip disappeared under her front teeth and she paused. It had to open. It had to. A trace of despair crept behind her eyes, sharp and sickening.

The Last Teamster by Bob Sojka

The bobble headed Jesus on the dashboard of Terry Kozlowski’s grav-lift truck stared at him as he parked it for the last time. It seemed to be asking the ten-minutes-from-unemployed Terry what comes next. Jumpin’ Jesus H was a relic from Dziadzia Kozlowski, his grandpa, another teamster from back when scabs were met with tire irons. Back when trucks had tires.

NonFiction

King David in the Cave by Tala Bar

This article has been inspired by a story – legend, fairy tale – told by the Hebrew National poet, Haim Nahman Bialik, about the greatest Israelite-Jewish king of all times, the Biblical King David. The story is called King David in the Cave, and below is its abstract translated from the Hebrew by the author of this essay. The Hebrew version in full appears online (s. Links).

Rats Amongst the Dwellings by Peter Jekel

Dinosaurs have always fascinated people. Most young children have asked a question about dinosaurs. Often the first book that a child will read on his/her own happens to be about dinosaurs. Jurassic Park and its sequels were some of the highest grossing movies of all time. When Toronto got its first National Basketball Association franchise, they held a contest to determine the name of the new professional team. The public overwhelmingly chose “raptors” as the name of the team, after the enormously popular predator of Jurassic Park. Needless to say, dinosaurs trigger an emotional response in most people, whether it be awe, fear or scientific curiosity.

Biblical Mysteries by Normal A. Rubin

There is a sense which the Bible is part of every person's heritage. The Bible has much to commend as it contains in its pages some fine poetry, vivid storytelling, deep insight into the human condition and moral guidance which has stood the test of time.

Poetry

The Assignation by James Hutchings

Memphis Street Railway Co. v. Stratton: 1915 by Elizabeth R. McClellan

Haiku No. 97 by Juan Manuel Perez

On The Ice Planet by Julia Rios