0385 00103 6010 Northern EssexCommnnityColleges LiteraryArts Magazine With Eeatored Guest Author Steve Almond T hank you once more, gentle Parnassus reader, tor gathering up yet another fresh copy ofour humble literary magazine, glowing and greasy with sharpened Additionally, we surrender our loftiest of similes, cold-pressed colloquialism, and gratitude to all who submitted work this past meticulous metonymy; twittering and teeming year; it is because ofyou and your brave with the unified creative forces that NECC’s efforts that Parnassus can continue to be the students can now place before your greedy, firstmost offirst-class publications. As with art-star\’ed eyes. A\e know it’s been awhile the last edition, we offered a fifty-dollar since the last issue; a year in fact. Indeed, this cash prize each to the swiftest and sweetest is the \’ery first yearly edition ofParnassus to fiction, poetry, and art orphotography, and come down the prox'erbial pike ofpublication our choice-makingwas even further stunted and into your hands. Your patience will be by the enormous amount ofamazingwork rewarded handsomely: what sits ahead is we received. This said, our options were some ofthe best art and writing from NECC scrutinized, and the well-deserved champions students ofboth the fall of2007 and spring of were crowned. For poetry, the smooth lines of 2008. We thought they’d be happier all cozy Aura Valdes won the slice for herpoem “The and mingled. Because this a bit ofa milestone Still Dance.” AlexAro, a prosaic paramour, ofan issue, our cover this time around reflects won the fiction honors with his story “War not new art from this past year, but rather Zone.” And finally,James Barille scribbled a full collection Parnassus covers from his way into immortalitywith his art piece the over forty-year history ofourfine tome, “Venus,” which is featured prominentlyin straight back to 1965, when both NECC and our gallery centerfold. The highest acclaims Parnassuswere in their formative infancies. As to you three; keep up those skills ofyours. To can be seen, Parnassus has traveled a lengthy all else published, congratulations as well, and evolutionary path, and we hope to advance many thanks for making anotherParnassus even further as we continue along. edition sparkle with your unique smatterings and crazy crosshatchings, yourvacillating As proof, we offer to you our inaugural vocabularies and stunted stanzas. featured guest writer, the esteemed and talent-bloated Boston writer, Steve Almond. Reader: do not wait one second longer. Please, Mr. Almond has published several novels, immediately gorge yourselfupon the feast nonfiction collections, and stories, including ofcontents before you; don’t forget to come his oft-celebrated dive into the seedy chocolate up for a breath from time to time to pick the world ofcandy construction, Candyfreak. Eike metaphors from between your molars. Enjoy, a morsel ofdiamond in your morning bowl and feel free to letyour fellow students inspire ofsteel-cut oatmeal, Mr. Almond’s prose your own creations - we’d love to read them generously graces our modest pages. Please next semester. enjoy his work, and to him, we offer bushels ofthanks. Thanks! This particular edition of Parnassus is dedicated in full to all past participants, writers, artists, visionaries, staffs, advisors, readers, editors, and roadside gawkers who have contributed to the many past issues over the decades; thanks to you all, whomever and wherever you may be. Your hard work has brought us here, and it will continue to push us in our creative and literary pursuits. St6V6 Almond is the author oftwo story collections, My Life in Heavy Metal and TheEvilB.B. Chow. His latestbook is a collection ofessays, (Not That You Asked) published in 2007 by Random House. He lives outside Boston with his wife and new baby daughter, whom he cannot stop kissing. Sweet Jesus He couldsee thehairpressedunderherheaddress, Jesus ofNazarethwason hiswayto the Gali- the wanting cheeks. Her ankles shone in the sable leewhenhe spottedaSamaritanwomanin the dawn. These country maidens, they were all the next valley. She was bent over a well and she same. The husband (a dullard), the stinkingin-laws, looked comely. Jesus was traveling alone. He the strong, neglected arms. had left the disciples down south. They were I shall come foryou, she said. such loves. Thinking about them gave him a Jesus touched the hem of her sleeve and the girl little shiver. flushed. The Samaritan was one of these shy young You shall, he said. things, just waiting. The dusty dress, the He loved them like this: coiled in the hot chamber downcast eyes, those ripe hips - a familiar of their needs. Hewould touch her slowly, with great dilemma. patience. He would tell her what she tasted of, her Jesus approached her. skin, her flesh. She would feel a pleasure so sharp as I am of a thirst, he said. May I drink from to briefly touch death. When she returned to life she yourwell? would declare herself saved. She dropped the bucket, pretending to be surprised. Myfather-in-lawforbidsmetospeak He traveled out of Galilee and into the coasts of toJews. JudeabeyondJordan and healed the multitudes. The Jesusnodded. Ihavetraveledagreatdistance. multitudes! He adoredthem! Somuchnoise, somuch My throat is dry. pawing. Often, before hepursuedthe actualhealings, author The girl stared at the ground. Her skin was he would climb onto a stone and fling himself right thecolorofyoungolives. Fromwherehaveyou into the assembly. It was like being swallowed by a come? thousand mouths. Nazareth. They carried unto him all those afflicted with vari- guest She glanced at him, withjust her eyes. ous diseases and racked with pain: the possessed, the Are you the Christ? crippled. These were outcasts, grateful for the mortal Jesuslookedaway,ranahandthroughhishair. touchandconvincedofthedivine.Andsohelingered It was that easy. over them, in shaded groves and catacombs, and re- There is an apple grove yonder, she mur- joicedinthenoisestheyproduced,theswellingoftheir mured. pale throats, the dankhuman scents. 5 It was the lunatics he savored. They suffered no Jesussenthisdisciplesfromtheroom,instruct- barrier of conduct, imposed no limits on his rites. ingPhilip to bringhim ointment. He wanted to use wooden devices? Hot oil? A paste Thereisnothingwrongwithyou,Jesussaid.He of figs applied to the intimate regions? Theydrooled set hislips to herwounds and theydisappeared, and gibbered. They sobbed. They bit at everything: one after another. * his neck, hisfingers, his gown. There were some children there too, palsied little They traveled north again, to the Gennesaret orphans with huge eyes and frayed raiments. The region. They must have seen a dozen stonings Phariseeshadshowedupbythistime. Theyhadspies alongtheway.Womenmostly,adulterers. Christ all ov’erthe place,just in casejoybroke out. went up to a mountain place, so as to be better Jesus said, suffer little children and forbid them heard. not to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of You people, he said. Why make your hearts heaven. so hard? Is violence your only pleasure now? He laid his hands on them, dispensing gentle ca- Whathasthedeedofastrangertodowithyou? resses; the Pharisees beat theirwings like angryfowl. I have given you a new commandment: to lov^e oneanother,tolovethyneighborandthyenemy The disciples all had their little proclivities. It was alike. whatmadethemdisciples. Lukedesiredcostumesand Shallwe live in sin? someone shouted. v^erse. Bartholomew public acts. Simon called Peter I am speaking now of lov^e,Jesus said. Cease fav’ored the rough cure. Theywere all insatiable. yourretribution. Him that takes the sword shall He rejoined them inJericho, at the summerpalace die bythe sword. So sayeth the Lord. ofZacchaeus,thepublican,whowasoutofhismind. He gazed down at the crowd and noticed a TheyrecruitederrantSadducees,sybariticEdomites, knot of Pharisees to one side, their long beards apassel of low-ranking Romans. Itwas a free for all. all in a row. They began chanting: Catamite! They devoured plums and wine. Nobody could see Fornicator! straight for three days. Jesus asked of these men. Would you trade Late at night, an old woman barged into the back green valleys for the stony places? If so, they room, where they lay with one another. She had her await you. Dwell amid the stone, the sackcloth daughterwith her. Theywere Canaanites. andashes.ThesinbeforeHimisnotpleasure,but The old woman said. Which one of you is the abstinence, which Hushes the Sj^irit with hate. Christ? The Pharisees grumbled andjeered. Someone pointed toJesus. My daughter has the devil in her. Jesuslaughed.Wouldyousmilemeforex])res.s- ingwhat my heart desires? W'hodoyou suppose Jesus nodded. She is wicked. Her mind has been consumed with filled that j)art with such ardor? Is it within you, inicjuity. my brothers, to deny His will? I have given you Jesus said. Desire is made perverse by the interven- a new commandment. tion of shame. Do you understand, mother? At this, one the Phaiisees said. If you are the riieoldwomansfjuinted intoth(‘sallowlight of her Son of Man, let a miracle |)rove your lineage! guest lamp. J(‘sus stared down at tlu' crowd, lie could see (io on,J(‘sus said. We shall tend to the girl. thedisciplesspeaking(|iiictlytosclecti'dcongre- She bowed deeply and barked out ol tin* room. gants, invitingthem to the aftergathering, riuy author Jesus.said to the girl. Be not afraid my daughter. I le would find a field of grass and suck the hoiu'y rose and went to her and gently removed her dress. from combs and l(‘t tlu* snn wash their hidden She stood, trembling. skin. rurn around j)lease,Jesus said. A miracle?Jesus said. Her back was cov(‘red the long, red welts. I'he crowd roared. 6 Hepulled aside his raiment. This is the miracle Christ shook his head. 1.1 of the body. He touched himself gently, with You’re all dried out aren’tyou, mylord? languor. Clouds gathered o\erhead and released Judas Iscariotcame to the door—lovely, suUen hea\y drops of wine, dlie wind brought gales of Judas. manua. Gaze upon me now, Jesus said. I am a They are outside, he said. man made of fiesh. Come closer. Kneel before Who?Jesus said. I me and open your mouths and you will have me The reviled, the infirmed.Judas grinned shyly. Will upon your tongues. You will call this holy in the you lie about in luxurywhile theyawaityour healing? great days to come. Jesusshookhishead.Youshallalwayshavethepoor. Me, you shall not always have. They came to Bethany, where Martha lived. Theyhadtakenupwithacoupleofwomenonthe Whatis that supposedto mean? Jesusfeltthestoneoffatigueuponhisforehead. He journey,professionalsinthesensualarts. Thedis- cipleswereinhighdander,butJesuswasspent.He made no reply. had engaged in excessive healing. The lame, the blind, the otherwise-dismissed. They came from ThenJerusalem.Whatagrandcalamity!Heentered great distances. Everyone was talking about his the city in a silk vestment, while the mobs set upon loins. Hisloinsthis. Hisloinsthat. Andhishands. him. Thestreetswerecrookedandchokedwithoffal. He had terrific hands. He was a carpenter. Oh, Merchants stood before their stalls, shriekingprices. that explains it. He waspublic propertynow. Soldiers marchedaboutinbrassbreastplates, cuffing PlanshadbeenlaidforaPassoverinJerusalem. the lame. Donkeys brayed and pissed where they Itwas time, the disciples said. stood. Traders thronged the gates while above, on Marthawasanolderwoman,awidowsodrawn theverandasoftheterracedhomes,officialsofRome the skin beneath her eyes looked like ash; it had drankfrom silvercups. been years. She grabbedJesus and dragged him TheycametotheTemple.Allmannerofcommercial to her bed chamber and emerged, an hour later, agent was on hand to greet wealthy pilgrims. Mon- glowinglike alantern. eychangers lined the stairs, lewd men in the shadow Jesus lay down and one of the whores came to of the lintel.Jesus had quiet worship in mind, but him. that was impossible. The agents tossed free baubles She pulled his head onto her lap and drew a at his feet and asked after the needs of his followers. philter of spikenard from the folds of her robe Theyhuddledaroundhimwithlongfingers.Thehigh and began to anoint his feet. priests watched all this from near the tabernacle, in He reachedforher, dutifully. skeptical array. Be still, she said. After a few minutes,Jesus told his disciples he had Andsohelaybackandlethisbodygolimp. She seenenough.Donotspeaktomeofanyagenda.This rubbed the soles of his feet, the dusty ankles. He is revolting. fellintoasleepanddreamedhewaswalkingona A crowd had formed at the bottom of the stairs. fieldofbones.Hismotherwasthereandshecame They wanted to touchJesus. They wanted to be author to him and kissed his eyelids. Her scent washed healed. over him: wood smoke, myrrh, the faint traces Jesusspoketothemaboutrenouncingtheirworldly of her womanhood. He began to weep, quietly goods, but they were frantic for his body, his touch, at first, then in racking sobs. A mob was coming whichtheyhadlinked, howeverfoolishly, tothebrief guest for him. Theywanted his body something to do miracle of wealth. Who could blame them? These with his heart. His mother folded him into her werethecitypoor,hardenedbyaproximitytoluxurs^. gown and carried him away into a quiet ocean The moneychangers continued to bellow the going of sand. rates. Whenheawoke,thewomanhadslippedanoiled Jesuslookeduponthegildedcitywhich,asaboy,he hand inside his raiment. haddreamedaplaceofGod, andhisanguishturned red. He leapt for the moneychangers and began tip- as amartvTof shame. AndstillI saytoyou,who pingtheirtables. Coinsofgoldandsilverspilledonto are most beloved to me: w^e have this night! \Ve the stone: the music of lucre. The rabble descended have this night and the blue hours after! uponJesus,thecoins,thedisciples,whiletheRomans, Jesus looked up from the table. Thaddeus and summoned by the high priests, leaned in from the Jamesw^erecivingtenderly. Heuncorkedanother edgeswith bronze spears. bottle of wine and took a long sw'allow: Come ThiswaswhereJesusdidhisbestwork.Thedisorder now; mybrothers. Letus rejoice in ourbrief hu- energizedhim.Heshuckedhisrobeandthrewhimself man span. into a complicated embrace im'ohing three sinners and atleast two lepers. ThehighpriestshadspokentoPontiusPilateby thistime andtheyissuedawarrantforthe arrest He was naked again on the Mount of Olives and ofJesus,theNazarene. Sedition. Obscenecrimes. againinthe\alleyofKidron.Thisiswhathedid,who Inciting the populace. Silver had seducedJudas he was. He believed in love as a revolutionarv' force. Iscariot. The body expressed what the spirit yearned after. It Jesus knew^ wTat w-as coming. He was the Son w^as a question of liberation. of Man. Of course he knew; Onthe eve ofPasso\’er, Herodsentforhim andthe \Vhile his lovers slept, he slipped aw^ay and disciples lamented. w^anderedintothequarterofthecityconsidered But Herod, afflictedwithgout,w^assmitten atonce. unsuitableformen of God. Helaywith thebeg- Theyspentalongafternooninthepalacesalon,kissing gars and thieves, the wTores and widow's, the fools, giggling, a milk bath in the copper tub. Such a wTetched poor. When he touched them, they pair. Herodwith hispendulous bellyandbeadyeyes, came to bloom like the flowers of the desert. Jesusso handsomeithurttolookathim. Thiswashis At dawn, he entered the Garden of Gethse- unique talent: he saw past the corporeal, the black mane,wfflere he hadarrangedaflnaltiv'st.Judas gums, the foul aromas of age and labor and disuse. w'ept bitterly;Jesus licked his tears away. They He loved the unlovable with a powerful, soothing made sw'eet, slow love amid the watching trees, intimacy. wiiose white blossoms dabbed at the raw dawn. Herod insistedJesus observe Passover at his home. Thencamethesentries,andafterthemthemen ButJesus stole away tojoin his disciples. They took of the legions. Theydragged his body away and the meal in alibertine fashion,with much reclining, a the restof the storystaggered on. Thiswaswhat surfeit of wine, rich foods.Jesus spoke of Moseswith mendesiredin asa\ior: properagonies,abloody exceptional tenderness. He was \isibly upset at the parade, thornsand\inegar, apiece of meat on a notion thatsuch aman would diewith the land of his stick. dreams in \iew. I hat was okay with Jesus. His spirit had as- Wrurfatewillbealtogethergreater,saidSimoncalled cended at the moment of his climax withJudas, Peter. and he sj)ent the rest of time suspended in ihe Jesus stared at him for a moment. midstof that sensation: total joy,total f'orgi\eness. .\o, hesaid. The land I dream ofresidesin ahidden He knew they would render his story a public cavern of the* heart, ficstasyisth(* final terrorof man, murd(‘r. It would beconu' a receptacle fortlu'old guest the unknowable place, and so Ik* has made Hod the human verities of fivir and loathing. guardian of his misc'iv. \ea, though I ha\’e couk* to Still, on a ran* occasion, he missed earth. He light a fire rrn th(‘ earth, the wood lies damj) through, missed tlu*suffering. 11(‘missedthesongofwev'])- for it is easier to strike another dead than to accept ing. He missed the und('rsid(‘ of tlu' elouds. He author the dej)th of our want. missed th(‘ dumb hope and sw(‘et confusion, the I he discijdes, h(‘aring this, began to objrv t. liiey radiant dreams of ('aeh heart before ruin. feared Jesus had lost ho|)e. But he fjuieted them, say- ing, Please, my brothers, do not des|)air of the truth. I have been sent as a prophet of lo\-e, but I shall die 8 i UndermySkin by Aura Valdes The Still Dance l)V Aura Valdos I feelyou washingmy hands The calm ofyour stance The embrace of awarm cave Today I am in the Still Dance Whiskers tickle The bitter and the sweet Tease The mo\’ement of my own sway Create new memories Ankle catch and knee bend Challenge old ones As a train rolls by. Under my skin. Like the name implies Eyes open I am hndingmovement in the quiet of closed eyes You are wounded and mortal Trustinginstinct, In this everyday dance Reflex With steel To catch me from And the grind for dollarbills. the falling Imaginingthe crimson color out of my own way, From your beating heart out of my own armor. Draws tears to my eyes Tiredness,joy, sadness. But not really Anger, Just a feeling “Need to be right”. Under my skin. Compassion, And surrender. The realization My soft lover In returningto me Is really human I am given gifts once lost A balance of muscle. memories once dangerous Workinghands. now shaken out Twentyyears greaterthan the history moved thru. Of mybrown body. Witnessed and held am as I held. Breath and tongue That pulls me undone What does this all mean? My lip Is there apearl beneath mytongue? Is a morsel in my tears? A fish out of water With you I sayYes. Under my skin. I am that speck poetry I am that sand Tonight, And the Still Dance I will feel, feed. becomes a great ocean. Read and create More thanjust assignments Of task and toil 11