Into the Open Arms of Summer
Two poems by Lynne Schilling
Spring, 2026
Meet Me in the River
For Viking, 2012-2025
When I die, I will look for you in a river.
I picture you there, your energy helping
move mountain water through forest.
We’ll hug to form a ball, hurl ourselves
downstream with the current, over rainbow
trout, rocks, and the muddy river bottom—
like small children, shrieking
into the open arms
of summer.
Translated into Chinese by Florence Ng:
讓我們在河中相會
獻給維京，2012-2025
當我離世，我會在河中找你。
我想像你在那裡，力氣大得
足以推動山水穿越森林。
我會互抱成一個皮球，跳進
水裡順流而下，越過彩虹
鱒魚、岩石和泥濘的河床──
如同孩童，尖叫著
投進夏日
敞開的懷抱。
remembering his sounds
In lieu of
flowers, send
him back.
-Andrea Cohen, “Refusal to Mourn”
molars crunching pizza crusts slurping water sniffing the wind clicking toenails on oak floors sigh the thud of shifting positions on the floor barking (only when asked “to speak”) thundering paws running up the stairs (until he no longer could) hiccups whimpering for his master to come down the stairs munching the pellets of his dry dog food running zoomies in the grass paws smashing through dry leaves the flopping of his velvet ears when he shook his head licking the inside of an ice cream carton snuffling and dancing when he was excited last heart beat wall of silence silence silence
Translated into Chinese by Florence Ng:
記住他的聲音
不要送
鮮花，送
他回來
──安德莉亞‧柯恩，《拒絕哀悼》
臼齒嘎吱作響地啃著披薩餅皮 啜飲著水 嗅著風 腳趾甲在橡木地板上咔噠作響 嘆氣 在地板上挪動身體時發出沉悶的聲響 吠叫（只有在被要求「說話」時才會） 腳掌雷鳴般的奔跑上樓（直到再也跑不動為止） 打嗝 嗚咽著呼喚主人下樓 咀嚼著乾狗糧粒粒 在草地上飛奔 腳掌一路踏碎枯葉 搖頭時天鵝絨般的耳朵撲扇著 舔食雪糕盒的內側 興奮時抽著鼻子跳舞 最後的心跳 寂靜之牆 寂靜 寂靜
Lynne Schilling began writing poetry seriously when she turned 75. She has published in New Verse News, MacQueen’s Quinterly, contemporary haibun online, Quail Eggs, Thimble Literary Magazine, Unbroken, and others. You can find her at https://lynneschillingpoetry.com/
A prose poem by Nadja Maril
Connections
I see the shape of her impressed into the fibers of the rug by our front door, large furry body sleeping, dreaming dog dreams, and I imagine her rising to greet me until I remember she is dead.
Later, on my stroll towards the coffee shop, without invitation a fluffy white dog taking his morning walk comes towards me and kisses my hand. Leash held by his owner, human and pet are out of sight in minutes, but the imprint of his kiss on my palm remains. And I wonder did my Chloe send him? Is there a league of labradoodles, dead and alive, who communicate through the spirit world?
In her youth she was my exercise coach, urging me to throw the ball and pick up the pace. In her senior years, she was a teacher of humility; grateful for one more plate to lick, a new friend to sniff, one last walk on the beach.
Reluctantly I toss away the night’s leftovers wishing Chloe still lived to enjoy them. The small favor of a dog’s wet nose on my hand, a memory I revive to remind me of the bonds we create.
Translated into Chinese by Florence Ng:
我看見前門地毯的纖維上留著她的壓痕，毛茸茸偌大的身軀沉睡著，做著狗狗會做的夢，我想像她站起來歡迎我，直到我想起她已經不在了。
後來，在我漫步往咖啡店的途中，一隻正散步的毛茸茸白色狗狗不請自來，輕吻我的手。他的主人牽著狗繩，人和狗不一會便消失在視線中，然而他的吻卻烙印在我的掌心。我不禁想，莫非是我的克蘿伊派他來的？會不會有一個由拉布拉多犬組成的聯盟，死去的和健在的成員透過靈界溝通？
她年青時是教我做運動，催促我拋球和加快腳步跟上她。她年老時教我謙遜，感恩能再舔多一碟美食，再嗅到一位新朋友，在沙灘上再散步一次。
我無奈地丟掉昨夜的殘羹，滿心盼望克蘿伊仍活著享用它們。狗狗用濕鼻子蹭我手的微小福利，是我一再重溫的記憶，提醒自己我們一起建立的連結。
Nadja Maril’s prose and poetry has been published in literary magazines that include, Lunch Ticket, Spry Literary Review and Across the Margin. She is the author of a book of poetry and essays, Recipes from My Garden published by Old Scratch Press (2024). A former journalist and editor, she lives in Annapolis Maryland, USA. To read more of her work visit Nadjamaril.com.
Two poems by Darrell Petska
Yours Forever, Dog
Because I am god-sent.
Because I love as god loves,
with no biscuits attached.
Because I teach love by example.
Because my eyes speak it.
Because my tail wags it.
Because my tongue licks away your tears.
Because my paw consoles you.
Because my bark tells you come play.
Because I take you for walks
and introduce you to those I meet.
Because I point out rabbits, squirrels, and toads.
Because my nose seeks the exotic.
Because my eating habits are eclectic.
Because I gift you my carrion treasures.
Because I enjoy TV night
and relish your pizza crusts.
Because I clean up your crumbs.
Because I warn of the looming full moon
and invite you into the tub when it thunders.
Because I stand guard for shadowy shapes.
Because I trust you to trim my toenails.
Because I take my medicines without whining,
bearing my afflictions like a saint.
Because I remain always beside you,
even after I’m not.
Because we are family forever.
Translated into Chinese by Milsan:
永遠至親，狗狗上
因為我是天賜良伴。
因為我愛得如神愛世人，
不求餅餅回報。
因為我身體力行教導愛。
因為我以眼睛表達；
因為我搖尾表示。
因為我以舌尖舔去你的淚水；
因為我以肉球掌安慰你；
因為我以吠聲告訴你來玩。
因為我帶你散步
向你介紹新知。
因為我指出兔子、松鼠、蟾蜍。
因為我的鼻子專門獵奇；
因為我吃不擇食；
因為我把腐肉珍藏都送給你。
因為我喜歡晚上一起看電視
品嚐你的披薩餅皮。
因為我是麵包碎清道夫 。
因為我事先警告滿月將到
行雷時找你一起躲進浴缸避難，
因為我防備搖晃的影子。
因為我放心給你剪腳甲，
因為我吞藥不抱怨，
承受苦痛，猶如聖徒。
因為我常在你身邊，
即使我肉身不在。
因為我們是家人，直到永遠。
Garbanzo Games
One bean
falls to the floor
cat billiards time:
stroke
double stroke
(feigned indifference)
side swipe!
long
slow
roll
into forgetfulness
until long past midnight
darn cat!
billiard bean-cum-hockey puck
chairs body-checked
tiles scritched
(feigned indifference)
slap shot!
groggy umpire calls
game over
bean baseballed into sink—
beyond window’s frame
high pop fly:
garbanzo moon
falling
toward
dawn’s mitt.
Translated into Chinese by Milsan:
鷹嘴豆球局
一粒豆
跌落地
貓貓桌球開局：
一撥
兩撥
（假裝毫不在意）
從旁抽擊！
又長
又慢
滾呀滾
滾入忘我境界
滾到午夜後良久
衰貓！
豆桌球加曲棍球
椅子一撞
磁磚刮花
（假裝毫不在意）
一巴擊中！
裁判睡眼惺忪叫道
玩夠喇
豆豆一棒打落鋅盤——
窗框外
高飛着：
鷹嘴豆月亮
漸漸
跌進
黎明的手套裏。
Darrell Petska provided social work services before a 30-year career as a university outreach editor. His Pushcart Prize-nominated poetry has appeared in Verse-Virtual, San Pedro River Review, Third Wednesday Magazine and widely elsewhere both in print and online (conservancies.wordpress.com). Father of five and grandfather of seven, he lives near Madison, Wisconsin with his wife of more than 50 years.
Two poems by Diane Funston
No Good Time
She waits
atop the bookshelves
in the living room where she
claimed the couch, the ottoman,
the back of the leather chair
where she watched
the soap operas of street.
Calendars full
we need to schedule
family get-together,
an Autumn afternoon
in the back garden,
a picnic of words and memories
where we celebrate her life.
Her ashes in the bamboo box
to be buried in the raised bed,
about the height of our bed
where she cuddled and slept,
awaiting belly rubs
many times a day
trusting us with exposed softness.
Her box is small
We’ll dig the hole
next to the amaryllis,
ringed by succulents,
protected by bold Talavera statues
and the tolling of wind chimes.
I’ll place the mosaic monument
I made, her name, Athena,
dates, 2012-2021
There was no good time
for her to die.
Translated into Chinese by Florence Ng:
沒有最佳時候
她在客廳的
書架上
靜候。
她佔據過沙發、軟墊凳、
皮椅的靠背，
從那兒觀看
街上的肥皂劇。
日程滿滿，
我們需要安排
家庭聚會，
一個秋日下午，
在後花園，
一場文字和回憶的野餐，
我們一起讚美她的一生。
她的骨灰裝在竹盒子裡，
安葬在升高的花牀中，
和我們的睡牀差不多高，
她喜歡在我們的牀上蜷睡，
等著我們給她搔肚肚，
一天之中搔不停，
她很放心把柔軟的部位交給我們。
她的盒子不大，
我們會在朱頂紅旁邊
挖一個洞，
四周將圍繞著多肉植物，
由勇敢的塔拉韋拉雕像守護她，
風鈴的叮噹聲伴奏著。
我會放上我做的馬賽克紀念碑，
上面寫著她的名字雅典娜，
生卒年，2012-2021
對於她，沒有一個死亡的最佳時候。
The Dog, Ten Times
Athena’s face,
fierce protector
behind my neck.
Charlie’s grizzled eyes
fall deep asleep
one last time.
Great Dane Charlotte,
noble clown,
sea serpent in lake.
Huge stray Bud,
outgrown cuteness.
We adopt him.
Uncle Lou and Barney,
kitchen bench, side by side,
eating hot dogs.
Prissy poodle Pepe.
Shrill bark.
My mother’s only child.
German Shepherd Otto
swallows fish at lake,
surprise to both.
Jack Russell Cindy,
hidden behind
Rottweiler mask.
Irish Setter.
Red flash against snow.
Hit and run.
Pit bull hearts.
Twice latched on,
they don’t let go.
Translated into Chinese by Florence Ng:
狗狗，十次
雅典娜的臉，
我脖子後面
兇猛的守護者。
查理灰白的眼睛
最後一次
沉沉睡去。
大丹犬夏洛特，
高貴的活寶，
湖裡的海蛇。
大個頭浪子巴德，
不再可愛了。
我們領養他。
盧叔叔和巴尼，
在料理檯上排排坐，
吃熱狗。
拘謹的貴婦狗佩佩。
尖銳的吠叫。
我母親的獨子。
德國牧羊犬奧托
在湖中吞下魚兒，
魚和狗都覺得不可思議。
傑克羅素㹴辛迪，
藏在
洛威拿犬面具後面。
愛爾蘭雪達犬。
雪地上的紅色閃光。
玩突擊。
比特犬的心。
兩次咬住，
緊緊不放。
Diane Funston (she/her) has been published in Lake Affect Magazine, Synkronicity Still Points Quarterly and many others. Her chapbook Over the Falls was published by Foothills Publishing. Diane is on the spectrum of neurodiversity and her personality type, INFJ, is the rarest in the world. Diane also has CPTSD from early trauma. She lives in Marysville, California, an old gold rush small town outside of Sacramento. She shares her life with her husband and three loving rescue dogs.