New York, New York

The online journal, Bosphorus Art Project Quarterly begins with one of Farras Abdelnour's photographs, “Worship Me." Here the lights, colors, and streaks of movement all come together to honor the theme of this edition of the journal, New York. The home page is graced by another of Farras Abdelnour's pieces, “Going About," this one an elegant piece in black and white.

First in poetry is the work of Mike Marcellino: “Alphabet coffeehouse," “Flatbush”, and “Alexander's Strings." The pieces depict different parts of New York City from its jarring traffic to its more calming fountains. His words incite a sense of dreams embodied by the city: “Flew into New York/ on wings of Peter Pan./Flew into New York/ on wings of Babylon./ Jupiter in the right now/ not as bright,/ on this clear an' quiet night” (Marcellino, “Flatbush”).

Marcellino is followed by Erica Miriam Fabri, whose poetry appears to be a roller coaster of emotions and meaning. Her poem “Baxter Street Blues” moves up and down with humor and depression, telling a tantalizing tale of flirtation and every day life of traffic, markets, and work. With its light fairy tale quality, quick humor, and sudden, fleeting saddness, her poetry is a delight.

The fiction section features three seasoned writers: George Held, Dennis Vannatta, and Nicole Haroutunian. Held's Sting like a Butterfly tells a story of a man who goes to a poetry reading and hopes for a number from the female reader featured. The story includes an abundance of detail--perhaps too much at times, before its humorous end.

Vannatta's piece, “Brooklyn” describes the struggle of a family that has a missing child. The father is an ex-alcoholic, the mother seems to leech a sense of empowerment from her husband's misery, and the daughter is missing. The story invokes sympathy with its detailed description of the misery the father holds within himself. His fated meeting at the bar, and his final acceptance of the situation brings a faint sense of hope, which is quickly crushed by the mother's unexpected reaction.        

Lastly, “Bliss Street” is a story that shows the guilt of the other woman in the breaking of a relationship. The story gives a new perspective to adultery, by telling the tale through the eyes of the other woman. The woman's guilt over the situation, her struggle with her conscience and finally her finding of bliss takes readers on a journey with detailed imagery, unexpected plot twists, and a resounding resolution.

Poetry returns again in the next section in larger numbers and variety. Well- published authors like Claudia Serea and Emmanuel Jakpa are featured here. Out of the many poems available “Myths flying low over the city” shows the most fairy tale, mythical quality with mention of Ramayana, the Styx river and “a Phoenix flying low over 7^th Avenue,/ flapping its wings over the buses and cars./ It drops a feather at the traffic light./ It turns Macy's corner with a shriek, then up/ to its nest on top of the Empire State Building” (Serea, “Myths flying low over the city”).

Other poems like Jerry Ratch's “Fall of the Twin Towers” address more somber issues with a tender light tone that only hints to the darkness at the very end: ““She's hungry,” I said. The bird, head cocked/ waiting for something to fall, or to be given/ The grumpy businessman saying/ “Must not be a working bird”/.../ he gets up and flies away/ as the Towers crumble behind me” (Ratch, “Fall of the Twin Towers”). The variety of poems depict different aspects of the New York in similar light or mythical tones.

The section following displays three intricate and interesting photos by Farras Abdelnour. The “NY Timezone” and “Homesick” are both black and white pieces. “Ghosts” is a strange photo of a reflection of Times Square shown in red and black. Though the piece is intriguing, the black and white pieces seem much more classically graceful. “NY Timezone” with its shady movements and “Homesick” with its well defined features are instantly eye catching and beautiful to view.