SPIRAL CHAMBERS ONLINE November, 1995 Issue #2 ********** *CONTENTS* ********** Introduction ...Section 1 "Dreams" by Stephanie Grusch ...Section 2 "Nightmares Leave Messes" by Brandi Elly ...Section 3 "Tales of the Fortress Fall" by Celestial ...Section 4 "ACB" by Ben Ohmart ...Section 5 General Info about Spiral Chambers ...Section 6 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Spiral Chambers, issue 2, volume 1. Published monthly, except for a hiatus in December, by the Twisted Teen Publishing Company, P.O. Box 772, Mentor, Ohio 44061. Copyright 1995 by the Twisted Teen Publishing Company. All works herein may be reprinted. In fact, reproduction of this electronic publication is encouraged, so long as the works are not altered in any way, shape or form and credit is given to both Spiral Chambers and the work's respective author. For information on reproduction rights, submission guidelines, subscription information or for general inquiries, write to: Spiral Chambers, P.O. Box 772, Mentor, Ohio 44061. Over the Internet: Repsi SK@AOL.com. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ********** *Section 1* *********************** INTRODUCTION -------- Spiral Chambers, believe it or not, is produced in THREE different forms every month. First, there's the paper version that is distributed to small-press magazines without internet access. Sporting graphics and stylistic fonts, layout on the paper version sets the quantity and selection of material in each installment of Spiral Chambers. Once that's completed, the paper version is translated into an electronic version for editors with E-mail. Saves them typing, Twisted Teen postage and affords us a greater range of distribution. Finally, the last incarnation of Spiral Chambers every month is this E-zine, allowing S.C. to reach individuals who wouldn't normally see the column in print. Work to create each form of this column isn't heavy, but there has been some confusion as to which version people want. "Paper" or "electronic" seems simple enough, but then when you further subdivide the column into "Editor Edition" and "E-zine," things get hairy. With the aforementioned problem occurring regularly, it has been decided that Spiral Chambers the E-zine will be dubbed with a slightly different name, in the hopes of separating each version sufficiently. The other two versions will remain under the old title, but this E-zine shall allocate itself a special place among our line of publications. It is only right, for this is a direct link to the reader, whereas the other two versions are presented through other magazines only. What sort of name should be adopted? I'd like the name to relate with the other versions, so the best I've concocted thus far has been "The Spiral Cafe." If you like the name, tell me. If you don't, feel free to present a better title. This is a contest, of sorts. If we choose your title for this column, I'll send you a free copy of Nation magazine's anniversary issue. Nation is the pride and joy of Twisted Teen and the anniversary issue rocks. Inside, along with the regular twenty essays, will be two exclusive guest essays I've somehow managed to acquire with a pair of famous authors, one of which is internationally known and has had his work translated into over ten different languages and been on the New York Times Bestsellers list more times than I can count. In addition, each copy of the anniversary issue will offer a coupon for a free LP. Par usual, send us all of your best poetry! Remember: 20,000 people read Spiral Chambers each month. Wouldn't you just LOVE to have your work included? Yes, I thought so. Don't forget to also give me the address of anyone else you think would like a subscription to this E-zine; this is a poetry community, not just a stuffy collection of poems from an elite academic circle! -Shaken but not stirred, Peter ********** *Section 2* *********************** "Dreams" -------- by Stephanie Grusch Autumn wind around the painted leaves Chilled the forest heart without a rest. Ever the pounding silence of the air Stirred reminders of the frost in the robin's breast. In the chill air in the forest walked A figure almost without life or name In endless sorrow to the silent wind It cried in endless agony and painful shame. And I watched from the safe window Shut in like a dreamer-no power No power over the dream, only a watcher And so I stared for a silent, fearful hour. Safe from the cold outside, doing nothing Nothing to help the figure in its pain Unknowing, even careless of its cries Never wondering its business or its name. Never questioning the sorrow in the dark cold woods Where the autumn wind blew the painted leaves I turned from the window and did not look back For the dream lasts only while the dreamer believes. ********** *Section 3* *********************** "Nightmares Leave Messes" -------- by Brandi McElhatten Rain washes the blood off of streets stained and sinned on broken glass litters the ground feet are cut and bruised Furniture lay broken in the middle of the street this odd sight seems out of place the starving dog trots by burning remnants and hungry tenements. There is no food for him here. It's hard to believe there ever was. Something echoes in the air although it is silent. It's dead, this place. It could be anywhere now it's gone a rag doll lays on the ground, its eyes closed Nightmares leave messes. ********** *Section 4* *********************** "Tales of the Fortress Fall" -------- by Celestial When the battle finally turned its tide We were near starvation trapped inside * The sun for what seemed an eternity was swallowed up in cloud Blotched out by their foreboding shroud A darkness like despair enveloped our land A plague of hate had contorted many a man All things dead their charred remains Smoldering like our endless pain * Who can number those we lost? Tell me was it worth the cost? Still weak and unbelieving how can this be done? The war is over yet all are grieving No one cheers that we have won * Too crippled to move voices too cracked to speak Eyes too bloodshot to see so hungry so weak * Yet still the mighty stronghold stands A black shadow over forsaken lands Unshed tears like acid rain Struggle to drown out the Pain * To heal will take so much longer than a year To slay the beast who's name is Fear To replant the fields that once were green As lovely as you've never seen Sweet memories kaleidoscope In this barren world of lost Hope * But lo! Behold the looming clouds! A ray of sun pierced through their swarthy shrouds! And a smile touched my dry lips as my face was penetrated by the light And new strength like the warmth flooded through me I stood up and shouted with all my might "The was is over! The battle's won! Our enemy's defeated! Our task is done!" * And I watched as our foe retreated into the fading light Our fortress would not fall this night. ********** *Section 5* *********************** "ACB" -------- by Ben Ohmart I knew a friend of a friend who couldn't learn and we all made fun of what he was until we couldn't get any grades and he got the government money for what he couldn't do it took a couple tries, and i made it but i had a life eventually, and now i laugh at myself and what a beeper is what a nice car with carpeting is and whatever dreams i may've had. ********** *Section 6* *********************** SPIRAL CHAMBERS -------- Spiral Chambers is a syndicated poetry column that is distributed without charge to magazines of various degrees in size and content. Conceived in July of 1994, Spiral Chambers endeavors to unite the publisher with the artist, forming an interdependent bond where both profit from the other's success. Published monthly, Spiral Chambers offers small-press publications free poetry, without having to search and advertise for poets, weed through mountains of marginal submissions or even create the page layout. The poet, on the other hand, gets an instant world-wide audience, has their work broadcast to diverse cultural circles and bypasses the hassle of finding and sending their work to hundreds of publications. All parties profit and grow simultaneously from Spiral Chambers. This E-zine is offered as an electronic venue for the column. Help us grow: Tell your friends about Spiral Chambers! For complete guidelines, write to: RepsiSK@AOL.com