Lament of the Perfectionist
I am building a boat in the basement // and there are still so many details to work out.
The Rumen is a collaboration between writers and poets from a variety of demographics and backgrounds. Like the guts of an ungulate, we want The Rumen to be a space for ideas and experiences to digest, ferment, and transform.
Want to support our publication? Become a Subscriber or Buy us a Coffee!
Latest Publications:
The Grief Lexicon
I opened your bag today. The orange one Mrs. A gave you on your last birthday, the one with the gold buckle you said made you “feel like a senator’s wife.” I don’t know why I was reaching for it.
OBJECTS IN MIRROR ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR
By Cara Howard
We waited two hours for our turn to pay our respects. Bill and I shifted in a pew at the back of the sanctuary while snapshots from happier days looped on large screens near the altar. Conversations buzzed all around us.
The Artist and a promise
Gold splashes desperate over burning sienna, // The artist is choosing tobacco over bread.
A Charred Crown
By RL Selden
Molek! Your holy fire consumes // the burning bush speaking these new riddles
Driving Adrift
By David August
It was Thursday night, and like so many other nights in the past few months, he drove aimlessly through the city, alone with his thoughts.
At Sunset: Reflections on Participant Observation
It was almost time to bring in the sheep before the sun set behind the mountains. With excitement on her face and a bounce in her step, Iris emerged from the bedroom to the patio of her adobe house with a volleyball.
Glacier Kiss
Rime has settled on our wine fridge and the kitchen // island, making the quartz glacier shimmer in the // morning light.
Submissions
Have a poem, short story, or piece of creative non-fiction that you'd like to share with the world? Visit our submissions page to learn more about contributing to The Rumen.
