The world evolves. Each day, each week, each year brings something new to its history. Likewise, our emotions evolve, as each moment captures a variety of feelings, all triggered by, and reflecting the experiences of, our individual lives. We take in our emotions. We act upon our emotions. We learn from our emotions; and in turn, our emotions help to shape the person we are and who we will become.

As consequences of our distinct emotional lives, we, although all human, view events so differently. Similar situations may evoke quite asymmetrical emotions in two people. The same piece of work, when shown to two different people, may trigger wholly different associations.

This is why I am both excited and honored to introduce to you the seventh edition of the Bryant Literary Review. I invite you to read, and reread, each poem and story. In doing so, I hope new meanings, previously undiscovered, will emerge out of the blanket of words, for there are countless interpretations. It lies within you, the reader, however, to decide what you will make of each piece.

On behalf of the Bryant Literary Review staff, I would like to thank all the contributors to this issue, as well as those who submitted work, but could not be published at this time. Special thanks extend to The Pawtucket Times and Woonsocket Call, as well as to Bryant University’s Academic Affairs and University Advancement Divisions, and the English and Cultural Studies Department. With their help and collaboration, the BLR has embraced yet another year of success and advancement.

Escape and enjoy,
Julie Keang
Student Editor

EDITOR: Tom Chandler POETRY EDITOR: Tad Davies FICTION EDITOR: Nora Barry MANAGING EDITOR: MJ Kim ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Lucie Koretsky STUDENT EDITOR: Julie Keang DESIGN & LAYOUT: Rebecca Chandler

EDITOR'S NOTE

Thesis / Bryan Walpert
Nikkie and Jesus / Arthur Winfield Knight
Men’s Department / Leslie Pietrzyk
Tunes / Michael H. Brownstein
Homecoming / Susan Clayton-Goldner
A Boy’s Bike / Diane Lockward
The Final Note / Roland Goity
What Cannot be Found is Always Enough / Thomas Bonoma
dream landscape with wheatfield / Art Zilleruelo
Shipwreck Survivors March Along the Coastline / Timothy Martin
Love American Style (Or How Pop Got his Green Card) / Rosanna Armendariz
Travel Tips for the Solo Female in Central America / Cindy May Murphy
Born Again in Brooklyn / John Azrak
Wild Running Words / Jeanne Lohmann
Goody-Goody / Robert Kaye
George Segal’s The Butcher Shop / Stephen Gibson
Call It a Draw: On Art and Love / Neil Carpathios
Icarus as Teacher / Ann Zoller
Reprise for a Memory / Askold Skalsky
Running Out / J. S. Kierland
Shell / Sean Thomas Dougherty
The Covenant / Doug Ramspeck
For my Mother Who Has Never Been to Cape Cod / Carla Panciera
September Light / Connie Harrington
untitled / Kiki Denis
Grace / Michael Homolka
Aspects of Kelly’s Death / Ken Meisil
Onions / Joseph Pipolo
The Female of the Species / Erica Johnson Debeljak
Home, Rest, Home / Megan Jones
Where I’m From / Robert DiSario
Jacob / Bryan Walpert

CONTRIBUTORS