Art by Edward Michael Supranowicz
Fantasies
when I was young I used to read books
again and again, saving pocket change
and renewing library books until
i could buy them for myself:
always in paperback, pristine until
spines were battered from hard use.
I would return to the same pages,
the same story, the same people,
looking for the same rush of feeling,
of understanding, of excitement.
I could tell you that childhood was safe,
but books were dangerous:
in my steady suburban childhood
there was no drama except what we made.
daring expeditions to the West of the yard,
fairies hiding in dappled light across the drive.
but the truth is books were safe, childhood dangerous:
an air conditioner might topple over on your brother
and you’d watch the ambulance carry him away;
a man with a gun might move into your friend’s house;
your mother might drop to the floor after lunch
you’d dial nine-one-one and stutter your address.
so I would read the same books over and over,
opening to the first page with a thrill
of knowing: who would live, who would die
and even if they didn’t deserve it,
it was necessary, it had to happen
so the hero could have her happy ending.
The Author
Audrey Lewis is a teacher and writer living in the Midwest after years on the East Coast. Her work has previously appeared in High Shelf Press, Cathexis Northwest, and Rust + Moth, among others. You can also find her on Instagram as @heyaudreylewis.
Audrey Lewis, Chicago, IL
The Artist
Edward Michael Supranowicz is the grandson of Irish and Russian/Ukrainian immigrants. He grew up on a small farm in Appalachia. He has a grad background in painting and printmaking. Some of his artwork has recently or will soon appear in Fish Food, Streetlight, Another Chicago Magazine, The Door Is a Jar, The Phoenix, and other journals. Edward is also a published poet.
Artist Statement
I do not believe in formal artist statements. Art should speak for itself, and the artist should maintain a respectful distance and silence. I work intuitively and compulsively, probably believing that there are archetypes that are shared among us all, but amenable to being expressed in one’s own individual style.
I have been doing digital paintings and drawings for the last 10 or so years. It is a good fit to my personality and nature, being able go forward, then back, then back and forward, and not having to worry about wasted canvas. And digital work allows for sharing work with more than one person rather than just one person “owning” a painting.
Edward Michael Supranowicz
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