bra•vu•ra (br vyeor’ ;brä veo’ rä) – a daring display of brilliant skill. Established in 1964, Bravura is an award-winning literary journal that features the prose, poetry, and visual art of Palomar College students. Published every May, each issue of Bravura is produced by the student writers and editors who enroll in English 137: The Literary Magazine – History and Production (offered only during the spring semester). Supervised by Dr. Rocco Versaci and Dr. Carlton Smith, these students produce a high-quality literary journal that is funded by student fees, the English Department, and the President’s Associates. Many of the editors and writers featured in Bravura have gone on to be published elsewhere and have enrolled in graduate programs in English, creative writing, and book publishing.

THE BOY WHO WAS LOVED BY THE WIND KATHY MATTHES (THIRD PLACE)
FUROR POETICUS CATHY HUANG (JACK MAWHINNEY FICTION PRIZE - FIRST PLACE)
SHE TASTES LIKE STRAWBERRIES CASSANDRA LYNN EADE
SARAI FREDDY CLEVELAND
A PLACE WHERE NOTHING MATTERS ANYMORE ADRIAN MUNOZ
STRANGER IN THE WOODS ASHLEY CARLOS
TWO PENCE FOR PASSAGE JERIN KIRBY
THE MINISTER WITH A NOTE NICOLE PADGETT
THE BITE OF WINTER KENJAMIN LIDDLE
RULES OF ENGAGEMENT CAMERON WINTERS
FAIRIES OF LEINSTER RAILS COLLIN BROWN
THE CRITIC CALEB ACKLEY
THE QUEEN OF TEETH ISAIA MASANIAI
QUID PRO CROW PAULA PHILLIPS
INTRODUCTION ZAHRA HOOSHYAR
8 CHRISTA SCHNICK
RAINBOWS AUDREY ELLIS (SECOND PLACE)
HIS HOODIE LAURA STANTON
REASONS WHY I DON’T GET PAID ENOUGH ELIZABETH DE LA GARZA
A VOICE WITHIN THE PAGES LOGAN KLINGLER (SMITH/VERSACI EDITOR’S CHOICE)
ALDENTE ARTIFACTS CONNIE PENNINGTON
DEPARTURE ZECHARIAH HURD
EVERYTHING IS BLUE KRISTEN DE PUE (HIGH SCHOOL AWARD WINNER)

2018 BRAVURA STAFF Emely Abon, Patrick Brennan, Ashley Carlos, Cohen Christian, Tessa Collins, Oliver David, Elizabeth De La Garza, Preston Dennis, Cassandra Eade, Gabriella Feiring, Leo Fernandez, Aimee Flores, Zechariah Hurd, Breciane Jarvis, Jerin Kirby, Logan Klingler, Kenneth Liddle, Elisa Elaine Luevanos, Miguel Martinez, Isaia Masaniai, Esmeralda Meza, Ezekiel Mortensen, Adrian Munoz, Jason Paul, Connie Pennington, Ava Phillips, Raine Porath, Shane Preciado, Christa Schnick, Joelle Schumacher, Laura Stanton, Jonathon Torres, Taylor Wiestling, and Cameron Winters

GRAPHIC DESIGN Elisa Elaine Luevanos and Patrick Brennan

SUBMISSIONS Please visit https://www2.palomar.edu/pages/english/bravura-the-literary-journal-of-palomar-college/ or send works to bravurasubmissions@gmail.com

BRAVURA IS PUBLISHED ANNUALLY BY The English Department of Palomar Community College, 1140 W. Mission Rd., San Marcos, CA 92069. THE BRAVURA STAFF WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE CREATIVE COMMUNITY AT PALOMAR IN GENERAL, AND ESPECIALLY FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE LITERARY JOURNAL Dr. Joi Lin Blake, Superintendent/President of Palomar College; Dr. Jack Kahn, Assistant Superintendent/Vice President for Instruction at Palomar College; Shayla Sivert, Dean of Languages and Literature at Palomar College. The staff would also like to extend hearty thanks to Stacy Rungaitis and the PRESIDENT’S ASSOCIATES for their continued generosity. Their contribution rightly recognizes and encourages the artistic achievements of our students.

©2018 by Bravura, Department of English, Palomar Community College, 1140 W. Mission Rd., San Marcos, CA 92069. ISSN: 1931-4930

The contents of this issue may not be reproduced in any manner without prior consent from the writer or artist. All rights revert to the author or artist upon publication. Printed in the U.S. by RanRoy Printing Company, 8320 Camino Santa Fe, San Diego, CA 92121

Opinions expressed in Bravura are those of the writers and artists, and do not necessarily reflect those of the staff of Palomar College.

For more information, please send your questions to rversaci@palomar.edu or cksmith@palomar.edu