fjall // mountain
by Robert Fanning
Image: “Whispers of Lavender” by Sean Ewing
The higher you climb the more you believe you are sky.
That you’re neither made from—nor of—stone. Go on,
take in this vista, this new view. Feel as if you’re above
it all. But you know it’s in you: this same tectonic
groan—one world slipping over another. This buckle,
this upward crush. Call it point or peak—this height on
which you stand is where I shattered first. Let me remind
you, you’re going to need to hurt. Bad. To be this beautiful.
Robert Fanning (he/him/his) is the author of five full-length collections, All We are Given We Cannot Hold, Severance, Our Sudden Museum, American Prophet, and The Seed Thieves, as well as three chapbooks, Prince of the Air, Sheet Music and Old Bright Wheel. His poems have been published by Poetry, Ploughshares, Shenandoah, Gulf Coast, Waxwing, THRUSH, and many other journals. A Professor of English/Creative Writing at Central Michigan University, he is the Founder/Director of PEN/INSULA, an online resource for Michigan poets, and the Founder/Facilitator of the Wellspring Literary Series, where he lives in Mt. Pleasant, MI.
Sean Ewing is a visual artist inspired by the natural world and the delicate interplay of light and shadow. He endeavors to capture the quiet beauty of ephemeral moments, evoking a sense of serenity and introspection. His work often reflects the serene landscapes of dawn and sunset, creating a space for viewers to pause and explore their own reflections. Sean’s art invites contemplation and offers a peaceful retreat from the chaos of daily life.