Wordgathering

A Journal of Disability Poetry

Volume 6     Issue 1     March 2012

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Essays and Fiction in This Issue

The five essays in this issue of Wordgathering represent a wide variety of experiences and backgrounds, but all are focused on various aspects of writing and disability. In Michael Amram's personal memoir of childhood, the presence of disability is only lightly felt whereas Rob Quinn's "I'm Not Here to Inspire You," a title that could be a mantra for writing on disability in general is an essay about his personal experience with writing that approaches polemic. Kathi Wolfe's piece reaches back to discuss how a contemporary poet with a disability might deal with disability themes in poetry created about a world prior to ADA. Avra Wing's essay describes her experiences with a disability writer's workshop in New York City. Finally, the most theoretical and literary piece belongs to Stephen Kuusisto, a poet well known in disability studies circles, who looks into the work of past writers as a source for disability literature.

• Michael P. Amram,"Treading on Optimism"
• Stephen Kuusisto,"Creative Writing and Disability: Liminal Epistemologies"
• Rob J. Quinn,"I'm Not Here to Inspire You"
• Avra Wing,"I Not Disabled, I'm a Hippie"
• Kathi Wolfe, "Time Traveling with My Muse"

In addition to these, John Luttenberger III has an essay in the Arts section of this issue describing his preparation of Braille Transcripts for music concerts.

Fiction is among the rarest commodities in disability literature, but this time around Wordgathering has fiction from two writers. One is Sandy Olson Hill who shows how flash fiction can be a vehicle for exploring issues of disability and assisted living. The other is a short story by poet Jimmy Burns, based upon his own personal experiences with the after effects of a stroke.

• Jimmy Burns, "Killing Time Between Therapies"
• Sandy Olson Hill, "Assisted Living"; "A Slice of Brilliant Color"

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