Prosaicism

PROSAICISM A zine published by the ThirdWord writer’s workshop.

Edited by Stephanie Lane Gage.

Contributors.

Thomas Beran Connor Bruesewitz Anne Burnett Nicholas Kinsella Grace Mitchell Linda Moncada Michelle Sharp Amy Trompeter Trevor Wold

CO N T EN T S

banal / common / everyday / mundane / prosaic / trite

Drawing for Critique, Nicholas Kinsella..............................1 Jars, Anne Burnett......................................................................2 For Marianne, Trevor Wold.......................................................3 2:00 — 4:15pm, Thomas Beran...............................................4 Untitled, Michelle Sharp..........................................................5 Spam, Amy Trompeter...............................................................6 Untitled, Connor Bruesewitz...................................................7 Split Pea Soup, Linda Moncada.............................................8 A Reoccurring Fantasy, Grace Mitchell..............................9 Design & Cover/Contents Images by Stephanie Lane Gage

Drawing for Critique and Their Words Are Dry and I Am Tired, Nicholas Kinsella

1

Jars

Anne Burnett I am made of jars Call me pickled Pickle me in jars I am pickled My name is pickled Stop talking about pickles You need to find caps Caps, caps, caps Overflow Hemorrhage Excuse me while I bleed from my ears I will bleed from my ears and I will smile I am fine I am fine Ask me three times and maybe I will cry for you But only for you Demanding lids Cap them Control them Call me pickled

2

For Marianne, Trevor Wold

3

Untitled, Michelle Sharp

4

2:00 pm — 4:15 pm, Thomas Beran

5

Spam, Amy Trompeter

6

Untitled, Connor Bruesewitz

7

Split Pea Soup, Linda Moncada

8

A Reoccurring Fantasy Grace Mitchell She lies down on her bed, atop her pale green down comforter.

Slipping her right hand beneath plaid pajama pants, she feels the outside of her underwear.

Trimmed with lace Her eyes close, wincing as she tries to fantasize about a co-­worker, or an actor.

She likes to think about Alien from the movie Spring Breakers.

He lays her toned body onto a piano, effortlessly.

Kissing her nipples, and belly button, she is pierced everywhere in her fantasy.

Tickled by his cornrows and chilled by the rings on his fingers, he fingers her in the pool next to the piano.

She feels weightless in the water as Alien glides into her.

His grills bite her neck and she lets her throat breathe out noises, heavily.

Alien’s gold chain rests between her breasts, which are outrageously perky.

An ambient tone begins to play. Her cell phone is ringing.

She opens her eyes to see the ceiling fan above her body.

Looking at the digital clock beside her bed she sees that she is late to work.

She answers her phone apologetically, putting on a polo that has a nametag on it, and applying hand sanitizer.

9

Artist/Writer Information: Thomas Beran

thomasberan@miad.edu

Connor Bruesewitz

connbrues.tumblr.com

Anne Burnett

anneburnett.tumblr.com

Stephanie Lane Gage

stephanielanegage.tumblr.com

Nicholas Kinsella

nicholaskinsella@miad.edu

Grace Mitchell

grazemitchell.tumblr.com

Linda Moncada

lindamoncada.tumblr.com

Michelle Sharp

michellesharp@miad.edu

Amy Trompeter

amytrompeter.com

Trevor Wold

trevorwold@miad.edu

Printed April, 2013 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin The ThirdWord is a writer’s workshop at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design. facebook.com/thirdwordmke