SPIRAL CHAMBERS ONLINE January, 1996 Issue #4 ********** *CONTENTS* ********** Introduction ...Section 1 "Fleeting Love" by Alan C. Dougall ...Section 2 "Beauty Sleep" by Leilani Wright ...Section 3 "Touch of Light" by Michael Morain ...Section 4 "Did They Wonder?" by Dominick Freda ...Section 5 General Info about Spiral Chambers ...Section 6 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Spiral Chambers, issue 4, volume 1. Published monthly by the PSK Publishing Company, P.O. Box 772, Mentor, Ohio 44061. Copyright 1995 by the PSK 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 -------- Welcome to this month's installment of Spiral Chambers Online, the E-zine version of Spiral Chambers, a syndicated poetry column that is read by over 20,000 every month! This month sweeping changes are in effect at PSK Publishing, distributor of Spiral Chambers. Ushering in the new year, we've changed our name from Twisted Teen Publishing Co. to avoid any connection with anti-religious sentiment and stay clear of the notion that we are predominately a publisher of children's literature. It is not easy to instantly disassociate from a name you've been linked to for approximately four years, so I hope you will bare with us if the name's transition is a slow one. Some of the work we produce might be listed by our old name, while others will reflect the new title. Thanks in full to Amy Tavormina, currently a Spiral Chambers web page is under construction. Slated for completion in March, the page will collect past installments of S.C. and give you info on all aspects of the operation. Once it is completed, you'll be the first to know. Keep the poetry coming. Here's to the start of a grand year! The poetically inclined, Peter ********** *Section 2* *********************** "Fleeting Love" -------- by Alan C. Dougall Friendly concerning love pleases and delights, with responses intent on fun. Warm affectionate love comforts and listens, but secretly expressed burns. Selfish shameful love impresses and flatters, but considers only the moment. Impatient passionate love dreams and devours, yet boiled fast cools quickly. Shared longing love creates and destroys with the same words wheels turn. Realistic practical love challenges and defends; so conscience deprives its end. Final opportunistic love seeks and sows desires, yet knows time will steal it away. Restrained parting love lingers and grieves, yet pretends life goes on. Separated solitary love wallows or diverts, to feed or choke the past. Patient considerate love allows space and time, and hopes pause in anguish. Selfless undying love surrenders and frees, and dies to bring rebirth. Responsible decisive love cannot rest (forgive me) until you are safe and found (in Him). Deepest love (He knows) requests (if you permit) to hear from you and pray. ********** *Section 3* *********************** "Beauty Sleep" -------- by Leilani Wright I feel I ought to warn you about dreams. They do not always mean what you would like them to. Take my advice; lie on your right side, furthest from your heart and not on your back, where the vitals are always too exposed. If symbols reoccur, like a train, gun, or snake at a station, do not assume a sexual slant. Roll over quietly. Stop snoring. Do not identify with the murderer who descends to the platform. He is rarely you and will only disturb the warm body sleeping at your side. Let the danger pass; you can always use another form of transportation, like your own legs when you walk in your sleep and wake up naked in the neighbor's flowering plants. This means fresh air and plenty of exercise. And you will be fortunate to remember so little by morning. ********** *Section 4* *********************** "Touch of Light" -------- by Michael Morain The whiteness of the dawn Soft like a cloud against the dark Moving like an ocean Quietly, stealthily, carefully With fingers of light caressing Touching, holding, tasting Tracing our outlines against the sand Measuring our footprints Against the shadows Like a wind shining and sparkling Cleansing the dust motes of our atoms Warming us, holding us And in a moment Gone. _____________________ (Advertisement) REFLECTIONS A semi-annual lierary 'zine devoted to writers of all kinds Here's what they're saying about it... "A surprisingly good litzine...that's more measured and fun than edgy or 'deep.' My favorite story was Ben Ohmart's 'Put Off', a blunt, dense and funny tale about cosmetic surgery and getting sh**faced. The narrator of Dawn Schloesser's story 'Who Minds the Monitor?' has a great wry tone and Tiffany Selby gives us a sexy vampiress in the Anne Rice vein." -Factsheet 5 $4 an issue, payable to Tiffany Chaddock. Reflections 216 Brimmer Road Merced, California 95340 or over the internet, at: Taselby@AOL.com _____________________ ********** *Section 5* *********************** "Did They Wonder?" -------- by Dominick Freda What are we here for? The question has been asked Endless times, Contemplated over and over With never an answer. As long as I can remember, Reaching the height where I could see myself reflected In a mirror, I have stared at that antithetical being, Asking him, "Who are you? "Why are you here?" He doesn't know the answer. Religion tells us just to serve. Politicians tell us to lead or follow. Dichotomies ramble and force division. Economists say we should be rational. Societies say we should be normal. Why? Do we exist just to give life, Propagate, be fruitful and multiply? Or are we here to hate, and kill; Give off deadly fumes so that One day we will end our wonders, In search of that ideal, that eternal progression? Millions of years ago a spark Created all life From some thoughtless phenom, Some unfathomable chasm, Of nothing and everything; The Alpha and Omega, Nameless and unconscious. And Pop lost his tail. And Mom stood and walked. And they saw that IT WAS GOOD. But did they wonder? Did they dream of successes? Or fear demons in the night? Huddle in the cold, Loving to embrace? Did they wonder? Did they ever think of their Children's tomorrow? And could they imagine a Beautiful and terrible world Of Darwinian technology, Knowing that each step taken, Each triumph, each fall, Counted the dying Of mankind? Did they wonder? ********** *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