Sequel Volume XXXIII 2021 Displacement

Preface
AustinMorris,’21
LiteraryEditor-in-Chief
they/he/she
Tobedisplacedistobeplucked;toberipped;tobetornfrom whereonebelongsanddropped
elsewhere.Lifecanbekindorcruelinthischoice,butneverthinking.Inthisway,itdoesnot
choose-andneitherdowe.Itonlypuls,andweonlyfolow;toparadiseortofounder.
Thefuturehascastofalscafolds.Itiswindingstem andpetalonemomentandalthornsthenext,
aldowntotheearth.Wherewerememberthattherearethingstobedone;thatchangeisnever
painlessandseldom unredeemable.
It’strue:Noneofusarewherewewere.Norwherewewantedtobe.Or-
Wehavebeendisplaced.
Whattodo,then?
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“Desecration”|OliviaBartholow,21she/her|AcrylicOnCanvas
24

W hatSheCouldn’tGive
RoryPeddicord,‘21
he/him
Upinthosemountains
Isanoldman.
Heclimbedupasaboyand
Hehasn’tcomedown—
Neverneededtocomedown.
Upinthosemountains
Isayoungwitch.
She’sbeenupthere
Muchlongerthanhim,
Plaguedtobeborn,againandagain.
Upinthosemountains
Ithasn’tsnowed,
Hailed,orbeenmetwithstrongwinds
Sincetheoldmanarrived.
Thewitchwon’tlethim die.
Upinthosemountains
Areonlytwosouls;
Themortal’sunbeknownst
Tothegiftsofthewitch.
Itbewildershim.
Upinthosemountains
Hereyeswatched
Asheslowlywitheredaway.
Itmadeherfeelweak.
Shehadneverfeltweak.
Upinthosemountains
Isanempty
Graveandanemptycofin
Conjuredbythewitch.
We’lknowwhenitsnows.
“WildFlowers”|RoryPeddicord,21he/him |Digital 25

W oodenGirl
SerendipityChamberlain,‘21
he/him
Flowersunfurlinthemorningsun
Cloudsabove,rainishere
Backtowhereshebegun
Heroakarmssoftenatthetasteofspring
AprilshowersbringMayflowers.
ButsheknowswhatherMayflowersbring:
Change.
Alwayschange,alwaysbad,alwaysrough
Woodengirl,woodenbones,
Woodforthefire,notenough
Hereyesshuttight,sheknowsshewasmeant
Toburn,tobreak
Tobeginherdescent
Intomadnessanddestructionlongbeforeshewastaught
Howtolove,howtolie
Howtobewhatshe’snot
Agoodlitlegirl,skinandbonessoftandsweet
Flowersunderamask
That’sonlyhalfdeceit
“Rays”|PaytonSchrieber-Pan,’22he/him|Photography
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