SISTERHOOD OF THE BARBED WIRE MUSEUM

“Acts of Bravery (Day 1 & 3),” image by Lois Bradley
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…we should have lassoed ourselves together
lashed down to weather the storms.
—Carrie Nassif
That pain in her eyes? It’s in mine.
—Louise McKinney
The concentration of
wife mother woman left untouched
her mysterious hankering
for solitude.
—Rebecca Ruth Gould
Today I feel centered and time is a friend instead of the old enemy. It was zero this morning. I have a fire burning in my study, yellow roses and mimosa on my desk. There is an atmosphere of festival, of release, in the house. We are one, the house and I, and I am happy to be alone—time to think, time to be. This kind of open-ended time is the only luxury that really counts and I feel stupendously rich to have it.
—May Sarton
…do I need to say
your voices are searchlights?
—Susan J. Erickson
Rapunzel Brings Her Women’s Studies Class to the Tower by Susan J. Erickson
“Rapunzel Brings Her Women’s Studies Class to the Tower” by Susan J....
Final Crescent by Jane Schulman
“Final Crescent” by Jane Schulman Think of me on bruise-blue...
Wanting for Grace by Donna J. Gelagotis Lee
“Wanting for Grace” by Donna J. Gelagotis Lee The mist over...
She Shall Soon Find a Way by Julie Babcock
“She Shall Soon Find a Way” by Julie Babcock Gingerbread after...
The Siege of Ennis by Eileen O’Leary
“The Siege of Ennis” by Eileen O’Leary Bernard and his...
Her American Life by Sokunthary Svay
“Her American Life” by Sokunthary Svay She prays to her altar,...
Untitled [the dark knows this] by Jennifer Patterson
“Untitled [the dark knows this]” by Jennifer Patterson The...
Ace of Pentacles by Roxanna Bennett
“Ace of Pentacles” by Roxanna Bennett What is before you:...
Lines by Yania Padilla Sierra
“Lines” by Yania Padilla Sierra I cannot see See beyond the...
This Poem Will Refuse to Confess by Emily Regier
“This Poem Will Refuse to Confess” by Emily Regier That I have...
Bipolar Girls on a Manic High Are My Addiction by Stephanie Heit
“Bipolar Girls on a Manic High Are My Addiction” by Stephanie Heit...
Woman Finds Her Face by Lois Marie Harrod
“Woman Finds Her Face” by Lois Marie Harrod when she unfolds...
Agoraphobia by Susan Austin
“Agoraphobia” by Susan Austin Don’t paint summer the color of...
Freshman by Sue Churchill
“Freshman” by Sue Churchill She stood through the whole club...
No Milk Over Tea by Zehra Imam
“No Milk Over Tea” by Zehra Imam Detroit, Michigan They tell...
Grip by Lauren Camp
“Grip” by Lauren Camp Sure, I was afraid of the perfunctory...
My South by Wendy Carlisle
“My South” by Wendy Carlisle On the left, the Atchafalaya, so...
The Jugular by Karla Morton
“The Jugular” by Karla Morton You laughed when I said I got...
Dada Does Dominoes by Glenda Reed
“Dada Does Dominoes” by Glenda Reed Washy is so drunk...
The Woman Who Picked Me Up by Antonia Clark
“The Woman Who Picked Me Up” by Antonia Clark had slammed on...
Woman Warriors: Babae/Babaylan by Aimee Suzara
“Woman Warriors: Babae/Babaylan” by Aimee Suzara Babae = girl...
Wild Faith by Karla Morton
“Wild Faith” by Karla Morton All angels, good and bad have the...
Anne Frankenstein by Deborah Thompson
“Anne Frankenstein” by Deborah Thompson When I open my...
You Accompany Parents Through Winter by Alice Cone
“You Accompany Parents Through Winter” by Alice Cone As you...
Small Bodies by Alexandra Reisner
“Small Bodies” by Alexandra Reisner A six-year-old child’s...
Some Secrets by Debbie Urbanski
“Some Secrets” by Debbie Urbanski Outside this window there...
Black Swans: A Poem for Voices by Katharyn Howd Machan
“Black Swans: A Poem for Voices” by Katharyn Howd Machan We...
She Whispers Korean in My Ear by Tanya Ko Hong
“She Whispers Korean in My Ear” by Tanya Ko Hong We were...
Sista-Girl by Louise McKinney
“Sista-Girl” by Louise McKinney “. . .and in between it’s...
Third Platoon Learns Cover & Concealment by Karen Skolfield
“Third Platoon Learns Cover & Concealment” by Karen Skolfield...
Delores (Part One) by Esther Cohen
“Delores (Part One)” by Esther Cohen My friend Delores she’s...
Before the Show by Donna J. Gelagotis Lee
“Before the Show” by Donna J. Gelagotis Lee Under the lone...
Acts of Bravery by Lois Bradley
“Acts of Bravery, Day 1 & 3” by Lois Bradley It...
Bracelets, G. Evelyn Lampart
Bracelets by G. Evelyn Lampart Sophie is wearing bracelets – I can hear...