900 Chicon Archives
900 Chicon – Issue #1
Beginnings are often tricky, unpredictable things. The beginner takes a few early steps in a direction that seems right – first step, next step; left, right, left, right – and is suddenly faced with challenges that change that initial direction. The beginner takes a look around, does some figuring, and begins again. Rinse. Repeat.
It’s easy to see the steps and missteps of beginnings as negative things. It’s easy for them to become frustrating to the point of inducing stasis. But it’s immensely important to keep moving forward over, across, and around those challenges, especially the early ones – step, step, step – at the very least until the beginning is really under way. Only then can you see whether or not the journey you’ve begun is worth it.
For me, this beginning is worth it. 900 Chicon is the new literary magazine of Huston-Tillotson University. The work in this first issue is the creative product of Huston-Tillotson students. We’re interested in publishing quality literary work – poems, fiction, creative non-fiction, images, video (the last two of which are obviously literary works) – for audiences to enjoy and artists to be proud of.
Special thanks to Dr. Katherine Oldmixon, Dr. Julie Hudson, and Dr. Laura Smith for their editorial work and their belief. This first issue is our worthy beginning.
Mike Hart, Assistant Professor of English
Send 900 Chicon your work!
At least until the Fall semester 2010, 900 Chicon will keep our submission period open. We’re interested in publishing quality literary work – poems, fiction, creative non-fiction, images, even video – for audiences to enjoy and artists to be proud of. Send us your best work, and we’ll respond as soon as we’re able.
We prefer text in .doc, .rtf, or maybe GoogleDoc format. We prefer images as a .png or .jpg, but we can work with just about anything. For video files, if we can’t open it up, we’ll let you know.
Submit your work electronically to litmag@htu.edu.
Fiction
The Journal of Sgt. Daniel Hart: 1828-1864
by Dan Culpepper
Pat and I were sneaking out of the camp with hopes of a good time when we saw the scout. We looked up upon the ridge and saw him in the winter moonlight atop a horse. The mare trotted down the hill as we ran towards it. As we did the rider slumped from the saddle and hit the ground with a thud. Pat scooped the boy up and carried him back to camp where I immediately informed the Captain. The exhausted boy – no more than sixteen – relayed his story.
Cocomo Hills
by Albert Johnson
They waited for her in the house. Stepping into the once-bright home, she could see the look in their eyes. “I don’t believe that my family would do anything to hurt me,” Mary Ann said over and over in her head. Their faces were not those of her family. She stepped back, repeating those words as she began to tremble.
Poetry
Like Dirt for Chocolate
by Mezzie Edmondson-Ochoa
Dark and rich, the texture of dirt.
Rich and dark, the taste of chocolate.
My fingers dance, cup and curl.
I revert melting (sweet, bitter) from a solid state.
New Year’s Eve in Brooklyn
by Zach Haller
I’d brush her hair behind her ear
when in my arm she brought comfort.
Once I met her wordless upon the balcony arm,
spear-straight back turned to me.
Photography
