sunken myth;

I am Lake Vargas and I write.

[stonemattress]

I just read your piece Alchemy got Tarnished Things in Butcher Papers and I loved it! Especially the lines “I met a girl who met me by the ankles / first. She trapped them in her hands / like a dustpan shouldering glass” I hope you keep writing :)

That’s so sweet, thank you! I definitely have fallen off the horse but I hope to get back on it one day. Thank you again, though, and I’m happy you liked it! 💛

[stonemattress]

you can delete these messages now

was that a moment for you, darrien?

[stonemattress]

Part three of “We Are Meant to Believe” by Lake Vargas, published in Impossible Archetype’s fourth issue.

[stonemattress]

This is my reading of the poem “leave the light on” by @arckhaic. Thank you for allowing me to read your piece! Music included: “Wasn’t What I Expected” by Lee Rosevere, edited at the end.

[callithumpzine-blog]

You can now buy our pilot issue on Gumroad for just $5!!

From college love to lycanthropic lesbians, Callithump! brings you four short stories, two poems, and six illustrations in this pilot issue, which features six writers and six artists.

Callithump! is a zine supporting and celebrating positive depictions of LGBTQ+ characters by LGBTQ+ writers, illustrated by LGBTQ+ artists. This 55-page issue features two poems, four short stories, and six beautiful full-color illustrations.

[callithumpzine-blog]

Introducing Lake!

pronouns: she/her/hers age: 17 online at: tumblr or twitter

Lake is one of the two extremely talented poets in our pilot issue of Callithump! We first fell in love with Lake’s writing for its stunning imagery. She describes her piece as being about “burgeoning and bludgeoning possibilities.”

To read Lake’s piece in full, contribute to the Callithump! Kickstarter and get your copy today!!

We asked each of our contributors to answer a few questions about themselves! Here are a few of Lake’s answers:

Q: When did you start writing?

A: “When I was eight, I would write poems on the backs of finished worksheets.”

Q: Where is your favorite place to write?

A: “I’d say my bedroom because I’m the most comfortable here.”

Q: What’s something you can do that you’re proud of? 

A: “I asked my friend, and she said I can make people laugh!”

Q: Who is your favorite person in your life?

A: “I wouldn’t say I have a favorite person, but a special one is my writing partner, Darrien. His writing and his heart are equally dazzling.”

Q: How did you get the idea for your story?

A: “I liked this girl in my class and I wanted to write about her. I included moments of observance, the desire for closeness, and the hope for every beautiful inevitability.”

[stonemattress]

This is my reading of “Rioting for Gloria,” a poetry ebook by bettersituation.

Thank you for allowing me to read your piece. It’s the biggest audio project I’ve ever taken on, and I’m very grateful that you’ve trusted me with your work.

All sounds and music are credited under the cut, in the order of which they appear. They exist in the public domain. “Acura Integurl” by Frank Ocean is present under transformative use.

A warning for homophobia & internalized homophobia in the work.

Track List

INTRO

Alone in the station by The Kyoto Connection

PART ONE

Ruins by Mystery Mammal

March of the Unborn (Remembrance) by Parvus Decree

Flies On The Prize by Doctor Turtle

INTERLUDE

Acura Integurl — Frank Ocean

Cassette deck fast forward sound by magedu

Special thanks to my friend for the voice of Girl Two!

PART TWO

Summer Dreams by Ryan Little

A Long Story by Damiano Baldoni

Nostalgic Resonance by Scott Holmes (permission also by email)

Hope by Borrtex

(A final note: I apologize for hissing S’s / popping P’s, etc. I’m working on it!)

[bottlecappress-deactivated20190]

She Wears A Souvenir Jacket by Lake W.

This morning, I dream. My friend sits in front of us: girl on the right nudges her knees against mine. Fields of lavender press against the van windows like postcards. The sky is lighter as it trickles into the flowers. Sunlight slides its fingers across her jawline. I want the gold to paste our lips together, bandage as a bridge. I say I have to tell you something and it is jagged across my palate, but before I finish she presses her lips against mine, and I grasp at her hair, the strands meshing with my fingers. When we part, she is smiling. I embrace her and cry into her shoulder, my tears thumbtacking her because I am so alone. I kiss her this time. My friend taps me on the knee: No PDA in the van. The girl travels into the passenger’s seat. I reach towards her, grasp at air and whine like an animal. I wake, still unsure if I had been joking.

Lake W. is a teenager living in the United States. Her work has previously appeared in Before I Leave Zine, Vagabond City Literary Journal, and Thistle Magazine. She tweets @lakewrites and her Tumblr is @stonemattress.

If you’d like to donate to Lake W. and Bottlecap Press 50/50 for this piece, follow this link: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=NQERRJ4GFK5HU

[heyunclekate]

LOCAL BIRDS - SPIT. take II is now available at @revival_shop_seattle. If you live in Seattle, please support a fellow boss queen and pick up your copy here. Other folks - you can now snag a copy in the @etsy shop. Link in profile. Blessed be. (at Revival Shop Seattle)

[thistlemagazine]

Thistle’s new issue, GROWTH, is finally here! It features an interview with @larabispinck, house plant advice, our spring playlist, plus writing and art submissions, and much more! Our new format is 60-page prints, making them much more affordable and ad-free! Download a digital copy, order a print, or donate over at our website: http://ift.tt/2nKht0n 🌱🦌 . . . #thistle #thistlemag #thistlemagazine #larabispinck #everywhereyougo #publish #illustration #feature #instagram #poetry #artwork #photography #prose #submissions #print #literature http://ift.tt/2ne4mXH

[stonemattress]

A reading of “FORGIVENESS & OTHER RITUALS MY BODY TAUGHT ME” by @jupiterreed. Thank you for allowing me to read your poem! The music is “If The Veins Are Closed, The Hands Will Rot Away” by LG17. —(Lake) // find me on twitter

[beforeileavezine]

Our December issue is out today. Cover art by Andres Perez. 

http://www.beforeileavezine.com/december-2016

[stonemattress]

A reading of The Stigmata of Progress by @taurogarchy. Thank you for allowing me to read your poem. The music is “Ikigai” by The Kyoto Connection. —(Lake)

[stonemattress]

A reading of this piece by @nobodysflower. Thank you for allowing me to read your work! The music is “Chasing Flight” by Westy Reflector. —(Lake)

[stonemattress]

A reading of “ROUTE 28″ by @rewoven. Thanks for allowing me to read your poem. Song used: “Mountain Bells” by Lobo Loco.

—(Lake)

[stonemattress]

A reading of “Finely Divided” by @agooduniverse. Thank you for allowing me to read your poem!

Song used: “July” by Kai Engel.

—(Lake)

[stonemattress]

A reading of “ANATOMY OF RITUAL” which was written by @heatbit. Thank you for allowing me to read your poem.

The music is “Intro” by Raphae.

-(Lake)