Emily Perkovich
i’m awash in rose petals
soaked in silk
a mouth cups smoke
/there is a space where i slip in the air, a place where the rain dances against the roof, a place where the window cracks just enough/
dust gathers in the corners
we slip upstairs in a wolf-pack
glow, soft in blue-light
/i tiptoe on concrete, pull grass from roots, dig fingers in earth/we tiptoe on skin, pull hair from roots, dig fingers in ribs/
you sleep in the alcove
i wake half-asleep
Letter from the Editor
Dear Reader,
To put things simply, hygge has been one of our most difficult issues so far. With all that’s going on in the world, there were (understandably) only so many submissions to sort through, and only a portion of those fit our vision for this theme. Nevertheless, I’m delighted with the poems and prose within this small-scale issue of Nightingale & Sparrow Literary Magazine.
I plan our issue themes well in advance yet couldn’t have predicted just how apt a theme hygge would be for this early portion of 2022. Facing tensions on a global scale, the ongoing pandemic (yes, COVID-19 is still at large, especially for those of us with high risk), and everything in between, it’s nice to sit back, curl up with a cosy blanket and a warm drink, and read some hygge.
With hygge, we aimed to embrace the gentle warmth and comfort of the Scandinavian concept, making our way through winter—and welcoming spring—with a worthy celebration through words and images.
“Flickering candlelight, cosy blankets, and an undeniable feeling of warmth no matter how cold your surroundings,” we wrote to submitters. “—it’s no surprise that the Scandinavian concept of “hygge” has become so popular across the globe. For this issue, we’re looking for these same feelings of comfort and contentment in poems, stories (both true and imagined), and visual artwork.” From Birdy Odell’s “Wallpaper” to Annie Marhefka’s “At the Lake House, We Skip Rocks”, you’ll feel the mug in your hand, see the flicker of candle flames, and the woven fabric of a throw against your skin as you make your way through these pages.
As always, thank you to the N&S staff who worked on this issue, the submitters and contributors who trust us with our work, and the readers, customers, and other supporters who make Nightingale & Sparrow happen.
Here’s to hygge!
Juliette Sebock
Editor-in-Chief, Nightingale & Sparrow
Eve Croskery
We are nestled in bed
together, propped up on pillows,
a nest to hold our love.
You sink into my unfurling chest,
ripple with my breath,
fragile and strong and feather-soft.
If only we could forever float
in this sacred space
where sea meets sky.
I was told to sleep while I can
but how can I, when I can tuck myself
into your warmth, gaze at your shape,
drink you in as time bends,
stretches like honey, this moment
already a memory melting away.
You’ll never be one week old again
and so, I hold on tight.
ISSN 2642-0104 (print)
ISSN 2641-7693 (online)
Founding Editor, Juliette Sebock
Hold on Eve Croskery
snug Emily Perkovich
Wallpaper Birdy Odell
Floral transport Patricia Davis-Muffett
the lonely mountain apotheosis H. Sanders
Aunt Moonstone Marie-Louise Eyres
Coming Home Yvette Viets Flaten
Fire Eater Karen Sadler
Where to Read Robyn Smith
Nonfiction
At the Lake House, We Skip Rocks Annie Marhefka
Cover Image
Morning Espresso Maggie Krebs
In the leadup to hygge, we shared a series of micropoems across social media:
Poetry and Creative nonfiction Contributor
Birdy Odell is a Canadian writer and artist whose work has been featured in numerous literary magazines and local galleries. She often draws on themes of death, loss and belonging as inspiration for both her writing and visual art. She published her first chapbook, ‘Cemetery Music’, with Nightingale and Sparrow in 2019. You can connect with her on Instagram @angelbirdstudio