Siberian Sunbathers
Carol Gloor
In the National Geographic picture
the fat bikini women
stand smiling on the small
beach of the Ob River,
which is not in the picture and
which they can’t swim in anyway,
because, the caption says, this is the most
polluted river in Asia.
Besieged by potato soup,
coal refineries, snow,
they blink into startling sunlight,
display their proud pale flesh
to the opening air
while the background buzzes
with sudden greenery, tundra flies.
Anorexia is not prevalent here.
Their hair is crinkly,
strong, not too clean.
They smile, smile
to the camera,
knowing these long days,
like all respites,
are brief.
Month: June 2015
Letter from the Editors, Summer 2015, Issue 6
IS SUMMER ALL THAT IT’S CRACKED UP TO BE? We at the Review are looking forward to this most hotly anticipated season, and we’re excited about the collection of stories, poems, and essays in our sixth issue. What we’ve found most intriguing about this batch of writing, however, is the way that summer — with all its lazy promise — is a source of crackling tension for so many of our writers. They say the heat brings out our most violent and animal-like tendencies; in this issue, you’ll see some of that aggression, hostility, and competition on display.
In the pages of Issue 6, you’ll find the ease, leisure, and exaltation we expect from the season, but each beam of lazy golden light is shot through with darkness as well. You’ll find sunbathers in Siberia, idyllic blue lagoons beside funeral processions, cheating couples, escaped birds, and problematic mother-daughter relationships.
In other news, we are delighted to announce the winners of our very first prose contest, with the theme of CITIES GONE WRONG. Writers brought their best to the table and we were wildly impressed with the dark and twisted visions that came onto our computer screens. It was a difficult decision, but we’re so proud of our winners and runners up and will be publishing their work in our special Fall Contest Issue. Read on in this issue for the announcement of winners and runners up, and don’t miss our Fall issue to read their dark, electrifying works.
Happy reading!
Blair Hurley & Olivia Tandon