Review Digitized by the Internet Archive 2017 with funding from in DuPage College of https://archive.org/details/prairielightrevi191coll_0 The Prairie Light Review Fall 1998/Winter 1999 Volume XIX Number 1 The Prairie Light Review the Liberal Arts Magazine for the College of , DuPage, is sponsored by the Liberal Arts Division and funded by Student Activities. The Prairie Light Review welcomes original short fiction, poetry, short drama, essays, photography and illustrations from students, faculty, staff, and the community served by the college. All submissions must adhere to the guideline rules and be accompanied with a letter of authenticity. Submissions are reviewed anonymously by the editorial board. All authors, photographers and artists who submit will receive a copy of the magazine via mail. Editor Jo-Ann Ledger Graphic Arts/Layout Editor Chris Carlsen Assistant Editors Alan Dorich Heather Gilbert David Heymann Daryl Russo Staff Benjamin Aylesworth Meghan Clark Nicole Johnson Tracea Johnson Sharon Parent Jeff Ropars Athanasia Vagias Advisor Allan Carter Cover art “Dreams Come True” Laura Sosnowski The Prairie Light Review Logo Chris Carlsen Thank you to facultyjudges: Robert Georgalas, Tom Montgomery-Fate and Deborah Ryel. Also thanks to Meri L. Phillips, Susan Schmult, Dave Rogers at Creekside, Lynne Szopa andJeffRhodes at JW Reproductions and Borders Bookstore. As always, thanks to all ofthe people who were kind enough to submit their work. Our many thanks to Cynthia Cordes. Address submissions and all correspondence to: The Prairie Light Review SRC 1570 College of DuPage 22nd and Lambert Road Glen Ellyn, 1L 60137 or call: (630) 942-2733 Table of Contents The Three Weird Sisters Revisited Untitled 14 1 Christine Wahlgren Greg Brace Untitled 2 Grounded by the Storm 15 Dee Sattler Dee Sattler 1 Slept with Money 3 Practical Advice for Young Female Poets: Richard Oberbruner An Image Defined 16 Sarah Tasic The Christmas Doll 4 Danna Durkin The Next Smile 16 Carole Ann Spinelli Playboy 6 Sarah Tasic Blasphemous Rex 17 Richard Oberbruner Cafe at Morning, Rouen 7 Robert N. Georgalas Untitled 18 Randall Heinz Return of the Prodigal 8 Robert Gockman The Hurricane Hunters 19 L. Glenna Holloway My Escape 9 Sharon Kane The Spoon 20 Serena Niensted Untitled 9 Wayne Atkinson Anxiety 20 Constance Vogel A Chair Newly Placed 9 Robert N. Georgalas Gypsies 21 Kalpana Chitnis Untitled 10 Kelly White Two Daughters at Her Grave 21 Glenna Holloway Performance Poets 11 Constance Vogel Emotion in the Shadows 22 Dee Sattler Chicago 11 Patricia Petros A Game of Hackysack 23 Brooke Dennis Full Circle 12 Angela M. Sarno Muscles in a Skin 23 Robert N. Georgalas The Flowers in the Vase 12 Robert N. Georgalas Watching Charles Vickery Paint the Christian Radich 24 Brave Little One 13 Glenna Holloway Robert Houle L. Far Away Lands 25 “Suspicious” 14 Shelly Zabielski Constance Vogel D.P. (Displaced Persons) 26 Untitled 31 Patricia L. Karwatowicz Kelly White The Window of Time 27 In the Glow of the Night 32 Robert N. Georgalas Paul Lydon Bad Hair Day 28 Love: A Composer 33 Robert L. Gockman Robert N. Georgalas Grey of the Ground 29 Old on New 34 Heather Gilbert Patricia L. Karwatowicz Moon for Sale 29 Naked, She Irons 34 Robert L. Gockman Robert N. Georgalas Untitled 30 Untitled 35 Brian Currie JeffRopars Night Blinds Us to A 30 Robert N. Georgalas The Three Weird Sisters Revisited Double bubble, toil and trouble, Vacuum up the dusty rubble, Hammer, crowbar, saw, and bevel, Drill, sandpaper, file, and level, Strip and paint, tear and mend, Sweep and mop, knit and rend. Block and tackle, pry and spackle, Aim and load and hit a grackle. Mow and sow, reap and keep, Play the field or go to sleep. Round the bases, round the turn, Round the lightpole, live and learn. Garble, garble, vacillate, Visit and reciprocate, Defrost, dust, chop, puree, Clean and cut, then souffle. Roast and broil, glue and oil, Mix and whip and place in foil. Gut, debone, fluff and scour, Eat, then swim after one hour. — Christine Wahlgren Untitled — Dee Sattler 2 Slept With Money I slept with money and got pregnant I One hundred thousand bills surrounded me in bed like so many sperm government backed anxious to angle influence my damp in vault save themselves from dry death in natural light My sweating skin soaked in green print rubbing rubbing nakedness with presidents and forefathers whose tongues I actually felt Between sheets they brought the power of history home Soon will give birth I to new ideas investment opportunities that will spit choke crawl walk right into the next bed — Richard Oberbruner The Christmas Doll still remember the doll I received from something nice, I like to keep it as good as Santa Claus in 1955 when was nine years new because may never get a chance to I I I old. I named her Juliana. She was about have that particular thing again. 17” tall and slender - a doll you could dress My doll was no exception. When I dressed up. She came with a red shiny travel trunk. her, everything had to match; her shoes, hat It had hangers in it for her dresses, drawers and gloves had to be the same color as her for her shoes and accessories, and a place outfit. Everything was organized and in its for Juliana to stand. Every occasion after particular place inside the trunk. But now I that Christmas, my presents were clothes was thirteen, almost fourteen, and in high for Juliana. I told my friends that I was the school. I hadn’t played with Juliana for over luckiest little girl to have my Juliana. There wasn’t a day that went by that didn’t play I with her, dressing her and tidying up her Playing with her meant things just so. When I was finished, I would I was still a little girl. carefully place her in the trunk, close it, and put it in the back of the closet I shared with Not playing with her my two little sisters. made me feel bad. There were four of us by the time I reached high school in 1959; a little brother was the newest addition. It was getting a year. I knew I was neglecting her, but I crowded in our house. There were only two was growing up. Playing with her meant I bedrooms and one bathroom, but we didn’t was still a little girl. Not playing with her know any better. Most of our neighbors were made me feel bad. Tomorrow, I promised, I’ll in the same situation; three or four children take her out and straighten her things and and the exact same house, bought right after dress her in a real fancy outfit. That’s what I the war. My father used to say they were the kept telling myself, but I’d be on the phone best houses around. too long or busy shopping. had discovered I “Mr. Shekleton built a strong house, real the stores. plaster and real brick - built to last.” On Christmas Eve of 1959, Mom was He cringed when Mom put a hole in the trying to get us all to bed early. I knew she wall to hang another picture. had left the gift wrapping until the last “This is a new house,” he would say, minute as usual. offered to help, but she I Mom “you’re ruining it with all these holes.” said it wouldn’t be right if I saw any of the would tell him to keep quiet, it was not new presents. So, off to bed. was too excited. I anymore; it was twelve years old already. I Sleep always evaded me on Christmas Eve think my father just wanted everything night, then I’d get a nose bleed. I stayed in preserved; I’m like that too. When I have bed as long as I could trying not to swallow CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 4