Volume 2, Number 3Summer 2026 "Another Summer of Pure Joy" welcome message from Editor & Publisher Matt McCarthy "this young summer so far" poem by Tim Hogan "First date at Lily's" poem by Josey Posey "If I want to escape reality, I'll find you on the rocks" poem by Celia Ottinger "The Forest" oil painting on canvas by Kali Sullivan "Snapshots of Last Year’s Chicago" triptych poem by Philip James Sterwerf "Ryan Endless" fiction by Nan Denette "Mornings in the Neighborhood" poem by Katia Zalkind "Against Selfies" poem by Katia Zalkind "Refuge" poem by Katia Zalkind "What Do You Do With the Dress You Were Fired In?" essay by Allison Staulcup "All of this is part of what's hiding" poem by Bob Howe Five Oil Paintings by Julie Sulzen "Chicago Sonnet 44" poem by D.A. Hosek "Credit in the Straight World" by Zai J. "Rebirth of the Nun Anyō" poem by Zaid Zaheer "Asif's Miracle" flash fiction by Zaid Zaheer untitled poem by Zaid Zaheer "ODH 8314" oil on canvas by Richard Hanus "Alchemy" poem by Rachel Nieman "The Opera Game" chess puzzle by Chess Club Chicago "Rock 'n' Roll Breakfast" essay by Nikki Renée Frisinger "Priced Out" poem by El Poeta "My girl is a tall drink of water with a guitar" poem by El Poeta "Polaroid Collage Series" statement and artwork by Dan Zamudio "Official Messenger Summer Playlist" curated by Ryan A. Norsworthy "Cocktailing Is Life" drinks with Andy Geppert "Fire Gone" poem by Patrick T. Reardon "Lost Temple Bar" poem by Patrick T. Reardon Three Drawings by Julia Mace "Individuals up to age 42 can now enlist" poem by Nicole Shepherd "you can’t kill us in a way that matters" poem by Bridget Gordon Oil, Collage, and Mixed Media by Frank Zirbel "Pulling you out by the roots" poem by Geo Joseph
