Dulcet Volume Two

Page 1

dulcet a na t l a so f s e c r e t s& d u s t ya t t i c s

volum e two


volum e authors maggi e r a s p b e r r y p i e . i n f o domi ni ka s e a b o i s . t u mb l r . c o m j acl yn n a v a j o b o d i e s . t u mb l r . c o m mi l ou c r a s h c o u t u r e . t u mb l r . c o m l una p o r c e l a i n f a wn s . t u mb l r . c o m l aur en mi c i n o . t u mb l r . c o m

car i na

i wi l l b e y o u r f a i r y t a l e . t u mb l r . c o m

v al er i e c r o o ke d h e a r t s . t u mb l r . c o m ev ey f l i c kr . c o m/p h o t o s /e v e y mi l l s mor gan h o l d s a l o t o f r a i n . t u mb l r . c o m ki m t u mb l r . c o m 01 1 285. zoe i s l a n d s a n d c i t i e s . t u mb l r . c o m


bydomi ni ka


byj ac l yn


Wh e nIs a wy o uwi t hh e r Io n l ywo n d e r e d i fy o u rf a c es h o we dt h es a meg l o o mi l ys mi l e a si td i dwh e ny o uh e l dme .

wordsbymi l ou


bydomi ni ka


The rewasas e e mi ngl yneve re ndi ngl i brary ,t hec l i t ac l at t e rofmyhe al srunni ngt hrought hepas s age swoke t heghos t sburi e d be ne at ht hef l oorboards ;a s ymphony of s hus he sc onde ns e di nt oc oughe dc l ouds of dus t“we have he ard not hi ng f or a hundre d and one ye ars ,now youhavec omeands hat t e re dourdri e doute ars ”.Imurmure dahe art f e l tapol ogyast he ys l i ppe dmys hoe sf rom myf e e t . Idi s l oc at e d“TheLanguageof bi rds ”f rom i t spe rc h, as I ope ne di ta c uri ous c hi l le s c ape df rom wi t hi ni t s l e ave s ,i ns i det he rewe ret wohi dde n rooms :ones t ac ke d t ot hec e i l i ngwi t hof pre c i ousroc ks ,gl owi ngl i kes t ray moonbe ams ;i nt he ot he r an unf ri e ndl yt e a part y was be i ng he l d by t wo ge nt l e me n who s t are df or t oo l ong, t he ys i ppe d f rom t rans l uc e nt t e a c ups t hat moane d mournf uls onne t s .


IW i s h Me rri c atwast he rewi t h me ,s hewoul dl ove di t . ' Itmus tbe ve ry powe rf ul 's he woul dt hi nk,' maybe I s hal lbury i tornai li tt oa t re e . 'Iwoul d notl e the r t hough,i ns t e ad Iwoul d as k Cons t anc et oc onc oc tusa s we e tj ui c et omakeusi nt oLi l l i put i ansandt hepre t t i e s tl i t t l ec ake st ot uc ki nourf rontpoc ke t s( t omakeus bi gge ragai n) . Wewoul dc l i mb t hrough t hewi ndow i nt ot hebook,and nobodyc oul ds t opus ,noteve nt hos eunf ri e ndl yme n.We woul dre s c uet he i rpoorl i t t l et e ac upsandgoont os uc h adve nt ure s ,bri ngi ngbac kt hemos tval uabl et re as ure s : Mi s sHavi s ham' sc ol d porc e l ai n he artpi c kl e di n aj ar; Dori an Gray' s port rai t hi dde n unde r Sus an' s ol df ur c oat ;Han' sac c ordi on,c arri e ds os o ge nt l y;Mac be t h' s dagge r( whi c h I wi l lc arry l oc ke di n a box) ;f i nal l y AnneFrank' spe n,whi c h Me rri c atwoul ds l i pi nt o he r poc ke t be f ore t he of f i c e rs c oul dc rus hi t wi t ht he i r boot s . Words woul d run t hrough our ve i ns ,we woul d bre at he t hes pac e s ;e att hef ul ls t ops ;s l i pt hrough t hec ove rs . Wec oul d be c omes t ori e s . p. s .W hatwoul d you t akef rom s t oryl and? byl una


t hedi s t anc ei n youre ye si s a t hous and t i me s f art he r t han anyt hi ngmy t re mbl i ng hands c oul d eve r re ac h. al l I t ouc h i s i l l us i on dri ppi ng f rom d ism a n tlin g c ons t e l l at i ons . wordsbymaggi e


Some t i me sImi s shi ms ove ryt e rri bl y.W he n Il i s t e n t oc e rt ai ns ongson myre c ord pl aye rand Ic an he art he mus t yke ysoft hepi ano… Ij us twantt odre s supi nol d c l ot hi ng and go outt o di nne r and c ome home and j us t ki s s hi m and ki s s hi m and ki s s hi m unt i l we ’ re t oo t i re dt o ki s s any l onge r and we f al las l e ep unde rt he s he e t s wi t h our f anc yc l ot he s on t he f l oor . I want t o arl yi nt hemorni ngandmakehi m waf f l e swi t h wakeupe s c rambl e de ggs and c of f e e( be c aus e he onl yl i ke st he c of f e eImake ) .Iwantt obri ngi tt ohi mi n be dande at s ome s t rawbe rri e s whi l e he rave s aboutwhatI c ook I am,whe n Ire al l yam notac ook atal l .Ij us tl ovehi m, s oIt ri e de xt rahard.The nIt hi nk abouthow t hat snot hi m.He woul d neve r do t hatwi t h me .I c an’ twai tt o me e tt heman who c al l smebe aut i f ulwhe n Idon’ thave make up on.And buysmef anc ydre s s e st owe art of anc y di nne rs .And t he nt hat ve ry s ame we e k,c an f i nd t he be aut yi ns i mpl ye at i ng s t rawbe rri e s and waf f l e s and c of f e ei n be d.Imi s shi m be c aus eIhavenoi de a whohe i sye t ,butIknow onedayIwi l land Iwon’ tknow how Imadei ts ol ongwi t houthi m.Unt i lt he n,wai t i ng. wordsbyl aure n


He rhe artf e l tl i ket het i t ani caf t e ri t sf at alhi tt o t he i c e be rg. It s l owl y s ank be ne at h c hi l l y wat e rs , numbi ngi t spas s e nge rsof f re nzi e df e e l i ngs ;c onf us i on, gri e f ,pai n,l os sof hopeandl os sof l ove .Butj us tl i ke s unke n t re as ure , he r s unke n he art woul d be re di s c ove re d.Itwoul d re s urf ac e onc e more and re gai n i t ’ sf orme r gl ory , de s pi t et he t rage dy t hat i t had e ndure d.

words by carina


Fri day— a s t oryi nt hre epart s PartI:morni ng It ’ s Fri day and t he ac he si n our mus c l e ss how i t . Todayf e e l sl i ket hee nd of daysand Idon’ tknow why , e xc eptt hatwhe n Iki s syou t he rearee xpl os i onsbe hi nd my e ye l i ds and I f e e lt he ne e dt os he l t e r us f rom t he worl d.Yourbat hroom i st hepe rf e c tpl ac et ohi deaway , s o wel oc kt hedoorsand barri c adeours e l ve swi t h your dre s s e r and your e l bows and your ri bs .I know you s o sf e e ll i kef urni t ure . we l lt hatyourbone Ic ons t ruc tal i t t l ehous ei nyourarms .Iwantt ol i ve he re f oreve r ,s me l l i ng t he s al t on your s ki n,c l e ani ng t hef l oorsand dus t i ngt heraf t e rsand s e ndi ngmyvoi c e up i nt ot he hol l ow of your ne c kt os c are t he ghos t s hi di ng t he re .I run a bat h of ye l l ow l i ghtand f l owe rs ands t e am.W hi l et het ubi sf i l l i ngyout e l lmet hats oap bubbl e s are t he t hi nne s tt hi ngs vi s i bl et ot he nake d ye ,and t hatmake smel ovet he m al lt hemore , human e t he s ef ragi l el i t t l es phe re s ac c umul at i ng agai ns tt he t i l e . Themi rrorsaref ogge dove randasyou t akeof f your c l ot he sI c at c h you l ooki ng t hrough t hes t e am.Al ways wi t hs uc hac ri t i c al e ye , you, as you pe e ll aye rs of e xhaus t i onandt e ns i onf rom yourbodyandbe c omemore andmoree xpos e d.Iwantt ot e l lyou you arepe rf e c t .If onl yyou c oul ds e eyours e l ft hewayIdo.Gl owi ngl i ke as uns e tt oo bi gf or t hi st i ny room. I t hi nk f or a l lburs tand c ons umemei nf l ame ,buteve n mome ntyou’ i f you di d, I’ df orgi ve you. That l ook i n your e ye abs ol ve syou of eve ryt hi ng.I be ar i tno re s e nt me nt .I j us t hope t hat s ome one as pure as you c an f i nd s ome t hi ng,s ome whe re ,i n me . You l e tmewas h yourhai r . wordsbyval e ri e phot obyeve y



Fri day— a s t oryi nt hre epart s PartII:noon Myj oi nt sareac hi ng,youwhi s pe rt ome ,be ne at hour c anopyof s he e t s .Irepl y ,maybei t ’ st herai n,butyour l i t t l ef ac ei sdi s t re s s e d,l i kemaybei t ’ smoret han t hat , l i ke maybe your j oi nt s ac he t o mat c h your he art ,l i ke maybeyours ouli sashe avyast he s ebe ds he e t sarel i ght . It e l lyou t hatt hebe s tc uref orac hi ngi ss pl as hi ngi n puddl e s . So we bundl e up ( I but t on your c oat , your handsares haki ng)and wef ac et heday ,put t i ngs mi l e s on l i kewe ’ renormal( i f onl yt he ykne w. ) The re i s a l ow roc k wal l s urroundi ng t he rai ns wol l e nl akeand a l adde rt hatgoe sdown i nt ot he wat e r ,l i kemagi c ,you s ay.Iwonde rwhatwoul dhappe n i f wec l i mbe d down i nt ot hatrus t y ,anc i e nts pac e ,you and me ,pre t e ndi ng a manmade hol ei nt he ground i s t hegre at e s tmys t e ryon t hee art h.Weal lhavet o do a l i t t l epre t e ndi ngt oge tby ,don’ tyou t hi nk?Wehavet o bl oc k outt hef ac tt hatIdri nk t oomuc h andyou s moke t oomuc h and myhandsareraw and you’ rec l ums ywhe n you ki s sme . Igoove rf i rs t — you areac hi ng,c l e nc he d hard i ns i de yours e l fandqui e t .Mys hoe saret hi nandf ul lofhol e s , no mat c hf or t hi s we twe at he r .My f e e tare c ol d.The l adde r has s e e n be t t e r days ,i t prot e s t s be ne at h my we i ght .I s nag my dre s s on rus t y me t al ,I s c rape my kne e s ,Iam s oake dandmi s e rabl e ,al lf oryou.Comeon, Is ay ,butyou don’ tre s pond.I f e aryou c an’ the arme herai n.If e arwe ’ l lneve rhe are ac hot he rove rt he ove rt noi s ei ns i deourmi nds .If onl yIc oul ds e ei ns i deyours , repai rt hef raye d wi re sand bui l d you a pal ac eoutof t hats t at i c ,an oc e an of bri ghtgl as sand s unl i ghtand mus i c ,onl y mus i c ,pl aye ds of t l ys o you c oul d he arme , pl aye ds of t l ys oyou c oul ds l e ep. wordsbyval e ri e


phot osbyki m


Fri day— a s t oryi nt hre epart s PartIII:ni ght Byt hel ampl i ght ,l ove ,you l ook t obeaspal east he moon.The re ’ sa c e rt ai n be aut yi nt heway you’ rel yi ng t he re ,l ooki ngup atme ,a s mi l es t re t c hi ngac ros syour f ac e .I do my be s tt o re t urn i tbutmy f ac ef e e l ss t i f f . Some t i me sIt hi nk you aremadeof burnt outs t ars ,s o bri l l i ant ,bri ght and s ad,a s t e l l ar t rage dy be f ore my ve rye ye s .How romant i ct ot hi nk t hatt oni ght ,you are mi ne . Butl i ket hel umi narybodyt hathangss wol l e ni nt he ni ghts ky ,t he rei sa s hadowys i det oyou.How qui c kl y If orge tt hatyou c an c at c ht hel i ghtand f l i ng i tbac k l i kei t ’ syourj ob,butwhe nt hes un paus e st obl i nk and re s ti t se ye s ,t he reyou are ,not hi ng moret han a c ol d, dark c ore ,f l oat i ng i ns pac e whe re t he re i s no s ound, t he rei snol i ght . I am f ac e d wi t hac hoi c e :f l e et ot hewarmt h of t he s un,ore mbrac et hedarkne s s ,my own l one l y gal axy.I l ook t ot hee as t .i twi l lbea l ongni ght . wordsbyval e ri e




The Curator’ s Gi rl — as horts t ory wri t t en by Zoe Shewasare c urri ngdre am f ort hef i rs tt hre es e as ons of he rl i f e . Att hef ootof wi nt e r ,he rwi ngsbl os s ome d ands het oret hrought heme mbranebe t we e ni l l us i onand ac t ual i t y. Kne e l i ng at t he f oot of hi s be d i n a ni ght gown,haze l e ye d,broughtt ol i f ebyt hemoonl i ght , s hepl e ade di nl ul l abi e s . Hi svoi c ec rac ke d asheye l pe d,mos tuns e t t l e d.He dre wt hequi l tve ryc l os et ohi sc hi n,hi svi s i on be c ame s t unt e d as he bl i nke d wi t h vi gor ,t ryi ng t oe ras et he s t range f i gure f rom hi ss l e epy re t i nas . Pl e as el e ave , ghos t ,het ol dhe r . ButI’ m notaghos t ,t hedre am t ol d hi m.I’ m a gi rl .An e xas pe rat e d noi s e ,hemus ts t i l lbe dre ami ng. The moon s l i ppe d be hi nd a c l oud and s he f ade d outof s i ght . Hewe ntbac kt os l e ep i n orde rt o wakeup,and s ohedi d,dre aml e s s l y ,unt i lmorni ng. Thedre am s atathi sbre akf as tt abl e .Pl e as el e ave , ghos t ,het ol d he r .ButI’ m nota ghos t ,t hedre am t ol d hi m. I’ m a gi rl . She pul l e dt he c urt ai ns and l e tt he s unl i ghtt ouc h he rs ki n.Shadow and dawn pai nt e d al l of he rpore s ,ands hel ooke ds o,s ore al . He rhai rhung i nme s s yt angl e sandaf adi ngs c arout l i ne dhe rf ore arm. An e xas pe rat e d noi s e , he mus t be hal l uc i nat i ng or oade dhi sbri e f c as ewi t hpape rsf rom t he s ome t hi ng.Hel de s k, but t one d hi st we e dj ac ke t , and l e f tt he dre am be hi nd, apart me nt l oc ke d, l i ght s of f ,t hank you ve ry muc h.


She c he we d on t he c rumbs of s hadow, ponde ri ng, be c omi nge xi s t e nt i al ,bi di ngt i me .Thehourss t re t c he d, and dus k bre at he dc ool l y ove rt he c i t y ,s pre adi ng a t hre adbare pal e bl ue ove rhe ad,t uc ki ng t he bl anke tat t hehori zons .Thedre am t re ade dc are f ul l y ,t het i meof s l e ep wi t hi ns i ght . May dre am t hri ve i n abs e nc e of dre ame r? The mus e um gal a boi l i ng ove r wi t hl i f e .Orc he s t ral opus e s s wi ngi ng around t he raf t e rs . The port rai t s obs e rve d s l yl y f rom t he i r f rame s , t he l ands c ape s reve rbe rat e d wi t h t he s ound. Di ppi ng, s wayi ng, t urni ng, s l i ppi ng, t he gue s t s danc e d, unaware of t he ant i qui t yof t heday. Thet i mef ordre amsapproac he d. But . The wri nkl i ng c orne rs of e ye s ,t he upt urne d mout hs ,t he re was t oo muc h pl e as ure i n re al i t yt o s uc c umb t os l e ep. He was e l s e whe re , me ande ri ng t hrough i mpre s s i oni s m,wat c hi ng t he pai nt i ngs be c ome abs t rac t ast hes hadowsgre w.Hi st hought swe repoe t i candl oos e i n hi ss l e epi ne s s .Shadowsmi rrore d hi ss pi ndl yl i mbs , t he yworke ds moot hl yon t hef l oorwi t h hi sc are f ulgai t . Het ri e dt o appre c i at ehi sdi s t anc ef rom t hepart yand i gnore how muc h he de s i re dt os e e a human f ac e .The t we e nl one l i ne s s and al one ne s sf l i c ke re d di s t i nc t i on be i n and outof e xi s t e nc et he rei nt hes hadowy hal l .He kept wal ki ng. The orc he s t ra gre wf ai nt e r as t he ne w f oot s t epsgre wl oude r . Thedre am wasa vi s i on i n bl ac k,a gl i mme ri ngonyx gown. Si l e nc e f e l l . She paus e d and wat c he d hi m, hal f e xpe c t i nghe re xi s t e nc et obedi s c ount e d.Themus i c bl aze dt ol i f e ,agai n.He s ai d,Woul d you danc e wi t h me ? She t ook hi s hand and s ot he ys t eppe d and t urne d around t heope n hal lt ot hehum of di s t anthornsand s t ri ngs . Hehe l dt hes mal lofhe rbac k,ands hef e l thi s t re mbl i nghandbe t we e nhe rf i nge rs ,andt he yhypnot i ze d e ac h ot he r ,t hevi s i on and t hevi s i onary.


Thi swast he i rdaydre am. The yre ad t wobooksata t i me . Hebroughthe rf l owe rsf rom hi ss i s t e r’ sgarde n whe neve r he vi s i t e d. The y wat c he df i l ms on mut e and i nve nt e d t he c harac t e rs ’ voi c e s , unl e s s t he y we re part i c ul arl yi nt e re s t e di nt he s t oryl i ne . The y wrot e e ac h ot he rl e t t e rs , he pas t e d c l i ppe d pi c t ure s ,s he i nc l ude dof f be atpoe ms . Sheboughthi m abi rd. Hel e t rd go t he ne xt day. He pl aye d he rt une s ,s he t he bi i nve nt e dl yri c s ,and t he i rmus i ct urne dt o gi ggl i ngand t al ki ng and hummi ng i nt ot he c ave rn of t he gui t ar , l i s t e ni ng t ot he woods y buzz,hi sc al l ous e df i nge rs on he rkne e . Shel ove dhi st we e dbl aze randboats hoe s ,he l ove d he r kne e s oc ks and vi nt age pe arl s . And t he y l ove dt hewayt he i rhai rc url e d whe nt he ywe ntt ool ong wi t houthai rc ut s . On t he f i rs teve ni ng of wi nt e r ,t he s ky was not hi ng more t han a pal e bl ue bl anke t . Fl urri e s l i ke powde re d s ugar s pri nkl e d ove r t he i r s houl de rs , and t he yt hought i t was a good mome nt t o ki s sf or t he f i rs tt i me . It was ve ry c ol d and s we e t , i ns i deand out . The danc ee nde d, and he re s t e d hi s he ad on he r s houl de r . He was be c omi ng s os l e epy ,and ri ghtt he n, s he was l i t t l e more t han moonl i ght and s hadow, he r wi nt ry s ki nc ol d on hi sc he e k. Thewordsc amet o hi s e ars l owl y ,heproc e s s e dt he m groggi l y: Darl i ng,ne e dI s t i l lbe a ghos t ? In t he hal l ,he r voi c et rave l e di na t re mbl i ng t i mbre ,as i ft rans mi t t e dt hrough a gui t ar . tl e aveme ,i f you c an he l pi t ,mygi rl ,i t ’ sa ni c e Don’ dre am… Sl e epi l y , groggi l y , drawi ng t he qui l tt o hi s c hi n… She dre w he r gos s ame r wi ngs around hi m, huggi nghi mc are f ul l y ,qui e t l ywi t h he rs t arryf e at he rs , pul l i nghi m de epe ri nt ot hes hadows … wordsbyzoe


constellations . l i st en l ape t i t ef i l l edel ame rVangel i s s l e e pi ngwi t ht hei ns e c t sMemot one bo o ko ff r o s tOr l aWr en danc eo ft hes ug arpl um f ai r yTchai kovsky 33f ai nt i ngs pe l l sOr l aWr en f 端re l i s eBeet hoven mo o nl i g hts o nat aBeet hoven danc eo ft hes wansTchai kovsky 8t r ac ks . c o m/r as pbe r r y pi e mi xt apebymaggi e


byj ac l yn


days and ye ars pas s e d be ne at h t he s hade of a mome nt and a be wi l de ri ng pai r of dark e ye s . a mome nt wi t h no s t art , wi t h no e nd but l os t wi t hi nt he i nf i ni t euni ve rs eof re me mbranc e .

phot obymorgan wordsbymaggi e


a pe n palgroup f ordre ami nggi rl s j oi n usatl ost -l et t ers-group. t umbl r . com

f ounde d byChri s t i na f o r e s t d r e a ms . t u mb l r . c o m


de s i gn & c ol l e c t i on: maggi e( ras pbe rrypi e . i nf o) bean aut hor: s e c re t s anddus t yat t i c s . t umbl r . c om/s ubmi t

~ an at l asof s e c re t s& dus t yat t i c s~ s e c re t s anddus t yat t i c s . t umbl r . c om

Šd u l c e tma g a zi n e .


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