The Morpheus 2011 Edition 1 The Morpheus Literary Publication 2011 Edition Sponsored by the Heidelberg University English Department 2 About this publication Welcome to the Fall 2011 edition of the Morpheus, Heidelberg University’s student writing magazine. This year’s issue follows the precedents we established in 2007: 1) We publish the magazine electronically, which allows us to share the best writing at Heidelberg with a wide readership. 2) The magazine and the writing contest are managed by members of English 492, Senior Seminar in Writing, as an experiential learning component of that course. 3) The publication combines the winning entries of the Morpheus writing contest with the major writing projects from English 492. Please note that Morpheus staff members were eligible to submit entries for the writing contest; a faculty panel judged the entries, which had identifying information removed before judging took place. Staff members played no role in the judging of the contest entries. We hope you enjoy this year’s Morpheus! Dave Kimmel, Publisher 3 Morpheus Staff Emily Doseck................Editor in Chief Matt Echelberry.............Layout Editor Diana LoConti...............Contest Director Jackie Scheufl er.............Marketing Director Dr. Dave Kimmel............Faculty Advisor Special thanks to our faculty judges: Linda Chudzinski, Asst. Professor of Communication and Theater Arts; Director of Public Relations Major Dr. Doug Collar, Assoc. Professor of English & Integrated Studies; Assoc. Dean of the Honors Program Dr. Courtney DeMayo, Asst. Professor of History Dr. Robin Dever, Asst. Professor of Education Tom Newcomb, Professor of Criminal Justice and Political Science Courtney Ramsey, Adjunct Instructor of English Heather Surface, Adjunct Lecturer, Communication and Theater Arts; Advisor for the Kilikilik Dr. Ruth Wahlstrom, Professor of English 4 Table of Contents Fiction 1st - Conversations at Cornelia 8 by Matt Echelberry 2nd - Feed Me the Children 12 by Matt Echelberry 3rd - Blogjam 16 by Logan Burd Journalism 1st (tie) - The Life and Times of Richard III 24 by Natty Berry 1st (tie) - Do you know “The People in Your Neighborhood”?: Sesame Street comes to campus 26 by Liesl Barth 3rd - Soups, Breads, and Trolleys, oh my! 29 by Logan Burd Poetry 1st - Track 6 31 by Laura VanValkenburgh 2nd - No, Alice 32 by Mandy Stovicek 3rd - The Lighthouse 33 by Diana LoConti 5 Academic 1st - Jack London and Buck: The Call for Wilderness 35 by Mandy Stovicek 2nd - The Transformation of “The Original Caped Crusader” 41 by Logan Burd 3rd - “Death is Merely a Pause”: Emily Dickinson’s Transcendentalist Tendencies in Three Poems 46 by Brittany Cook Honorable Mention - Dependency and Controlling Spouses: Women in Noir 58 by Brittany Green Visual Arts 1st - Woman of the Mountains 65 by Jamie Furda 2nd - Liberation 66 by Mandy Stovicek 3rd - Second Sight 67 by Mandy Stovicek *Pictures seen throughout publication came from the Visual Arts portion of the Morpheus contest. Thanks to all who submitted! Senior Projects from ENG 492 68 6 Fiction Photo taken by Tyler Terwilliger 7 Conversations at Cornelia By Matt Echelberry Matt Echelberry, bett er known as “Mclovin” on campus, is a senior English writing major and fi lm studies minor from Bucyrus, Ohio. He served as the layout editor for this edi- tion of the Morpheus and also just completed his third semester as Co-Editor in Chief of THE KILIKILIK. “Gett ing There,” a play he wrote and directed, recently appeared in Heidelberg’s New Works Festival. He was also president of Sigma Tau Nu fraternity for fall 2011. After Matt graduates, he will pursue a career in journalism. They took a cab into Greenwich Village because it was thirty-two blocks from the offi ce. The destination: the Cornelia Street Café, which was alive with people and jazz and smells when Geoff opened the taxi door. He stood on the sidewalk and helped her get out behind him, then they split the fare. Mariett a was an associate; he had to keep reminding himself that this was just a friendly meeting, just two colleagues grabbing drinks after work. She looked gorgeous, though, the way women always do in their professional garb, stockings, and heels. The two walked past a few of the sidewalk tables and through a small crowd that stood outside the door in conversation. They went inside to the cocktail lounge and sat side by side at the bar. “This place is small, but it’s cozy,” she said. “I’ve been here once before, it all looks exactly the same. The Martinis are the best in this neighborhood,” he replied. As they waited, Mariett a looked around the room. Most of the dinner crowd had already cleared out, now it was the slow time between then and the drinking crowd, who came for the music and the atmosphere. Paintings donned the walls, not hanging in frames but literally inked into them, and there was a second level above with more tables. “This place is…unique. Don’t you think?” she asked. “I guess its novelty wears off after the fi rst visit,” he said. The bartender, a thin man who must have been in his fi fties, ppa roached them. “Good evening. What can I get for you tonight?” he asked. “I’ll have the house martini,” he said. “And for the lady?” the bartender said. “A Long Island, please,” she requested. A few more customers walked in. At the back of the shop, a guitarist was tuning his instrument on the stage. Geoff was wondering if the Café had a live band tonight, if they were any good. “This place is fabulous,” she began. “And this wine list is impressive—Pinot Grigio, Monastrell. Plus all the usual American and French names…Oh, I can’t believe they carry Tannat.” “I didn’t know you were so keen on wine,” he said. “Well, I have yet to meet someone at the offi ce who’s not. But I suppose wine tasting is somewhat of a hobby for me.” “And for Renny Lehman. Did you know he always has a bott le of Sangria in his bott om desk drawer?” They both laughed. She said, “That sounds like him. What happened to the rest of the gang?” “They all cancelled.” Some of their other coworkers made plans to go out tonight. Geoff had agreed, assuming that this would be a group thing; he 8 had no idea he would end up here with a former lover. They hadn’t been alone together in over a year, but amazingly, it now felt like no time had passed. The bartender reappeared with a drink in each hand. He placed each one gently on a napkin embroidered with the restaurant’s logo. “Thank you,” the two patrons said at the same time. “So what do we drink to?” he asked her, trying not to imply anything. “The Weimer-Gershwin contract went through today. I think that’s worthy.” The two glasses made a light clinging sound when Geoff and Mariett a toasted. They sat in silence, enjoying their drinks and watching the occasional customer come or go. They had many good nights together, back when he was at the top of his sales game and she was just an accounting assistant. The decision to end the relationship came mutually and then she received several promotions. They worked on the same fl oor now. It was not until a young couple entered that she commented, “You know, I feel like I see you less now than I did back when I was in payroll. I’m glad you still agreed to come all the way to the Village with me.” He wondered if she was making advances on him but decided it was just the gin from his near empty glass kicking in. “How could I let you down like everyone else? Besides, it’s beautiful out here in the fall.” Mariett a looked over her shoulder to glance at the young couple who seated themselves at a table toward the front of the room. Then she turned around and stared intently at the mirror behind the bar. He studied her, curious. Before he could say any- thing, the bartender returned with a broad smile on his face. “I’m pleased to tell you that it is now eight o’clock,” he explained. “We off er our wine tour until midnight this evening if the two of you are interested.” “Yes, that’d be wonderful,” he said without hesitation. “Very good. Then may I suggest beginning with the Sparkling Rosé, one of our sweeter imports from France?” the bartender inquired. “Actually, could we try the Macabeo?” Mariett a said. The bartender nodded as if to say it was a wise choice, then prepared their glasses. “Macabeo?” he asked. “It’s a rarity from Valencia. Trust me.” “You were looking at that couple over there earlier. Why?” She looked puzzled for a moment. “Oh! I almost forgot. Yes, I was looking at them because they reminded me of a game I used to play with friends while I was at Columbia. They’re sitt ing in a perfect position for us to see them from the mirror. To play the game, we watch them and make up what they’re saying.” They embraced the wine. She was right; this was bett er than the Sparkling Rosé. It complimented the jazz still playing over the speakers. “Alright then. Those people are out of earshot, so let’s try to play this game,” he said. “Ok. You speak for the man and I’ll take the woman,” she agreed. The woman was talking now, a warm smile on her face as she gripped the handbag on her lap.