Welcome to the July issue of Forge! Our cover art this month is ‘Roku Jizo,’ painted by Ato Sengai and gifted to our own Tim McLaffertry (kindly photographed by John Meyers). We hope you feel some of the peace it symbolises as you enjoy the stories and poems of this issue!

If you want a copy of this issue for your very own, check back here soon for details on how to order. Meanwhile, enjoy!

~Melissa Venables

Uber-editor, Forge 12.1

Forge is an independent endeavor. We do not receive money from any institutional patrons – we are completely reader supported. If you enjoy what you find here, consider buying a hard copy of a journal issue, or submitting a donation by clicking on the button below. Thanks!

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CONTENTS

—Prose—

John Allison: Aunt Josey’s Stuff

Rachel Chalmers: Deepwater

Stacia Levy: Three Methods to Save Your Life, Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3

Steven Masterson: Diane

William McGrath: Second Death

—Poetry—

Mark Belair: Fireworks | Burials | Breakups | ice | Summer Radiator | Come Silence | Sunset | The Wedding Picture | Umbrellas at Night | market | Early Spring | Disturbances

Simon Perchik: 12 Selected Poems — Summer 2018

Sarah Wetzel: Solace