Illuminations Volume 12 | 2011 Illuminations A magazine of creative expression by students, faculty, and staff at Southeast Community College Volume 12 “Good friends, good books, and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life.” Mark Twain 2011 Illuminations Volume 12 Conceptual Creator: Shane Zephier Editorial Team: Debrenee Adkisson, Heather Barnes, Mike Boden, Nicholas Borer, Mark Burkitt, Jennifer Creller, Dan Everhart, John Kuligowski, Jessica Larimore, Micaela Mota, Nicholas Muthersbaugh, Chuck Parker, Ben Penton, Caitlin Phelps, Lydia Phillippe, Claudia Reinhardt, Mary Ann Rowe, Kathy Samuelson, Natalie Schwarz, Debi Smith, Susan Thaler, Sarah Trainin, Matt Ward Project Coordinators: Kimberly Fangman and Jennifer Muller Project Assistants: Cathy Barringer, Rebecca Burt, Sue Fielder, Nancy Hagler- Vujovic, Rachel Mason, Donna Osterhoudt, Merrill Peterson, Janalee Petsch, Carolee Ritter, Amy Rockel, Richard Ross, Kathy Samuelson, Barb Tracy, Bang Tran, Pat Underwood, the English instructors of the Arts and Sciences Division Visual Publications Team: Tom Duong, Rachel Abernathy, Amber Cushman, Caleb Eubanks, Erica Graves, Emily Johnson, Mary Krula, Diane McLain, Dustin Rutledge, Dominique Whitehead, Amanda Whitlatch Illuminations publishes creative prose, poetry, and visual art, as well as academic and literary writing. We encourage submissions from across the disciplines. Our mission is to feature outstanding artistic works with a diversity of voices, styles, and subjects meaningful to the SCC community. Illuminations is further evidence that critical thinking and creative expression are valued at Southeast Community College. Illuminations is published in the spring of each year. Submissions are accepted year-round from SCC students, faculty, and staff. Submission forms and guidelines can be found at online.southeast.edu or in campus LRCs. Submissions or questions should be directed to: Kimberly Fangman c/o Southeast Community College 8800 O Street Lincoln, NE 68520 402-437-2844 [email protected] The content of this magazine does not necessarily reflect the views of the edito- rial team, the Arts and Sciences Division, or the Visual Publications Program of Southeast Community College. The content reflects student, faculty, and staff work without censorship by the editorial team. © 2011 Rights revert to the author or artist after publication in Illuminations. Table of Contents Brown Walls .............................................. 1 Katrina Bennett Postcard from the Wrong Side of Anxiety ....................... 9 John Kuligowski Yucca.............................................. Plant 10 Amy M. Salisbury Mija.................................................... 11 Ashley Cornelsen Rush to the Bus ........................................... 19 Amy Keller Nap............................................... Time 20 Jennifer Creller Father, I Thank You ........................................ 21 Jon Bradford Fence................................................... 27 Aaron Brix Abstract Self-Portrait ...................................... 28 Brittni Wolff True Troubadour .......................................... 29 Natalie Schwarz Ladybug Boneyard ........................................ 30 Uriah Rittenhouse Caught. 31 Kara Gall Coming to America ....................................... 36 Hani Sharro Hadgi Asylum................................................. 42 Danul Patterson Capitol Stairs. 43 Amy M. Salisbury Moving on Up ............................................ 44 Trevor N. Geary Looking.............................................. Up 49 Aaron Brix Collie................................................... 50 Amy Keller I Hear the Snow Coming ................................... 52 John Mayan Standing Parallel .......................................... 53 Mike Liedtke Wings in the Sky. 54 Teresa Bissegger My Neenie. 55 Jennifer Creller There’s a Little Cowboy in All of Us ........................... 64 Savana Riley The Miracle that Saved My Life .............................. 65 Sara Elizabeth Henrichs Not on my Watch ......................................... 69 Travis Koch Los.............................................. Diablo’s 70 Natalie Schwarz Black and Chrome ........................................ 71 Jennifer Creller Picasso.............................................. Face 72 Lydia Phillippe Modern Monsters ......................................... 73 Elliot Newbold Cows................................................... 78 Desirae Bennett Tales of an Eighth Year Nothing. 79 Zachary Knipe Hallway................................................. 83 Matt Ward Lessons................................................. 84 Daniel Cromer Grandpa’s Chair .......................................... 89 Amy M. Salisbury Orb Weaver and Prey ...................................... 90 Jacob Linderholm Hangin’ with the Felons .................................... 91 Alex Cordry Portal................................................... 95 Jeremy Bishop Tracks.................................................. 96 Laura Drawbaugh Just One More Day ........................................ 97 Sarah Yoakum Late.............................................. Show 100 Natalie Schwarz Wreck................................................. 101 Natalie Schwarz Scuttlebum............................................. 102 Mark Burkitt Hidden Strength ......................................... 103 Emily Danekas Fly, Birdie, Fly ........................................... 106 Laura Drawbaugh Splat.................................................. 107 Laura Drawbaugh Kurt Cobain ............................................ 108 Casey Carbon Oliver................................................. 109 Alejandro Pages Spiral.................................................. 115 Aaron Brix The World’s Youngest Conqueror ............................ 116 Marc Otero Scotty—Almost 3 ........................................ 117 Mark Burkitt Just One Drop ........................................... 118 Mike Liedtke The Not So Magic Bullet .................................. 119 Kiley Blanc Jaeger.................................................. 123 Nancy Hagler-Vujovic Pinecone............................................... 124 Jacqueline Parks What Jeremy Paslawski Believes ............................. 125 Jeremy Paslawski Deep at Work ........................................... 127 Emilio Franso Wildfire................................................ 128 Hiliary Cary April Showers in September ................................ 129 Danul Patterson Open............................................. Tulips 130 Michelle Brinkman Just One More Time ...................................... 131 Debra M. Lamprecht Water Spigot ............................................ 134 Amy M. Salisbury The Human ‘Being’ in the Written Word ...................... 135 Lynn Saffer Waterfall............................................... 138 Emilio Franso Needle and Thread ....................................... 139 Britnie Naprstek Hollywood Hogs and Hot Dogs ............................. 144 Uriah Rittenhouse No............................................. Account 145 Megan Vertz Dancing People .......................................... 150 Phip Ross Shoe............................................. Shine 155 Jennifer Creller Our Contributors ........................................ 156 Front Cover image, “Standing Parrallel,” by Mike, Lietdtke and back cover image(s), “Nap Time” by Jennifer, Creller. This volume of Illuminations is dedicated to Savana Riley. “Music is well said to be speech of angels.” –Thomas Carlyle On January 20, 2010, Savana submitted photos for publication in Illuminations. On February 11, 2010, she was involved in a car accident near the 84th and O Street SCC campus. Her injuries left her in a seven-month coma. On August 24, 2010, Savana died at the age of 20. Savana was to have married her fiancé, Thomas, on June 19, 2010, and he re- mained at her side throughout the coma. Savana wanted to be a children’s minister and had been on several mission trips. Family and friends spoke of her beautiful singing voice, her vibrant faith, and her undying devotion to children. Although we were able to publish only one, Savana submitted four photos to Illuminations, all of them tender portraits of children. We’re honored to have her photo featured here, and we thank Savana’s family for their help in coordinating its publication. Illuminations Volume 12 Prize Winners Illuminations awards prizes for student submissions in three categories: prose, poetry, and artwork. Grand prize winners receive $50, while runner-up winners receive $25. Prose Winners Grand Prize: Katrina Bennett, “Brown Walls” Members of the editorial team called Katrina’s intimate narrative “vivid and engag- ing.” Members felt her use of succinct, clipped sentences and condensed flashbacks created an emotional patchwork that connected strongly with the reader. One team member called “Brown Walls” a “sensitively written piece that leaves me wanting to help and wanting to know more.” Runner-Up: Ashley Cornelsen, “Mija” Editorial team members agreed that Ashley’s moving essay packed an emotional wallop without falling into bathos. One team member wrote that the essay showed “wonderful use of detail and strong use of personal voice.” Throughout her story, Ashley succeeds in offering insights into the complex social and emotional life of a young, rebellious Hispanic woman. Poetry Winners