A Note From The Editor

Dear Reader,

Thank you for choosing to look through Issue 70 of The Kudzu Review. The undergraduate artists featured in this magazine, as well as the work of each editor and editorial assistant, have come together in a shared passion for art, literature, and publishing to create this issue.

Since our founding in 1988, The Kudzu Review has published literature and art produced exclusively by undergraduate students. This Spring 2023 semester, we received a record-breaking number of submissions.

To the editors, Thomas Hart, Oliver Brooks, Michelle Benitez, Jasmine Loriz, Tessa Mahurin, Olivia Honan, Lili Verrastro, and all fifty editorial assistants: thank you for your commitment to Kudzu and for the care put into these pages. To our faculty advisor, Bridget Adams: thank you for your sincere support and admiration of undergraduate work. Lastly, thank you to the donors on the last page for making a print issue (and t-shirts) feasible.

In this issue, beginning with the cover “Man O’ War” by Allison Boroff, you’ll find the fresh and imaginative work of creative undergraduates from around the world. It’s uniquely gratifying to collaborate with my peers on publishing undergraduate writers and artists whose work I recognize as part of a collective emerging-artist experience. It isn’t easy finding time to create as an undergraduate student—and certainly not to create art of the caliber we have in this issue—so kudos to our contributors, and thank you for trusting us with your work. I hope the physical becoming of your inspired writing and art is even more potent on the page.

Issue 70 of The Kudzu Review should serve as a reminder of the vibrant and passionate creative community at Florida State and a celebration of undergraduate talent everywhere.

Thank you for picking up a copy.

Maddie Paskow Editor-in-Chief

Shavasana Gabrielle Wong

Harana No. 1 Reian Beltran

Effervescence Alana Rose

All I Know About Love... Jessica Anastasia

National Utah: A Series of Haikus Katie kelsey

Man O’ War Allison Boroff

To the Bumblebee... Rachel lechwar

Rain Alana Rose

Musha-Burui Joullian Van Pool

From Wrists to Jugular Jenna Prunty

Sweet Child Of Mine

Zynni Hartman

A Love Letter... Rachel Lechwar

21st at The Tenn Sarah Kate Evans

Planet Roof Kathryn Hennessey

Windowsill Chloe Harbin

From a Divorced Dad... Victoria D’Amico

Collage Allison Boroff

Refrain Of The Sacrilege Recluse Samuel McFerron

I Played My Nintendo DS... Jacob I. Taylor

Swim Slinger and The Stone

There Will Come Clear Skies Daniel Fairman

The Poets Always Say Gabrielle Wong

Self Care Cassidy Millhouse

A Taste of the Night Sky Xithlalic Vasquez

Bachata Bajo Las Estrellas Ashley Mendoza

Sixteen Vivian Lipson