Year: 2023

Here’s another “From the Archives” post, this time from issue 2. “What Do You See” is a great short story by Bea Rae. Enjoy!

What Do You See?

Bea Rae

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The speckled clouds grew pink from the reflection of the polychrome waters below. As the day progressed, azure, yellow and orange flooded the sky and mixed with the deep ocean-blue left behind by the moon. The ivory morning light began to dismiss the frost which had accumulated in the sun’s absence. Blanched buildings glowed with the warmth of the fiery orb that peeked its head over the jagged horizon, plunging the rocks below into darkness. 

Continue reading From the Archives – “What Do You See?” by Bea Rae

Today’s “From the Archives” post highlights a feature piece we published in issue 1 of Paper Lanterns, way back in 2020.

A Poppy in a Field of Daffodils: Discovering Diversity in Ballet

Rebecca Downey

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When we hear the word “ballerina”, we tend to think of world-renowned performers, such as Margot Fonteyn, Anna Pavlova and Rudolph Nureyev. What do these greats all have in common? They are all white. It is unfortunate that black performers are not typically associated with ballerinas. This is likely due to the underrepresentation of black ballerinas in the world of ballet.

Continue reading From the Archives – “A Poppy in a Field of Daffodils: Discovering Diversity in Ballet” by Rebecca Downey

This is the first in a series of “From the Archives” posts, where we share some of the fantastic writing we have published since our inaugural issue in 2020.

Today’s “From the Archives” features a wonderful poem from issue 1 by Emma Muldoon Ryan.

Toxic Relationship

Emma Muldoon Ryan

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We need to talk.
I feel… at this point in time our lives are somewhat
Adjacent.
You’re always there for me, you’ve always been my home, my rock.
But to live, I have no choice but to stand on your toes.
I’m sorry.
You’re ablaze but it’s not my fault
It was him, he did it.
See, I’m only continuing on from my predecessors.
They’ve engraved their mantra into my veins and I know nothing else.
I’m sorry.
You’re suffering but it’s not all me
I’ve tried to persuade them,
I have, I promise,
You give me comfort and security
But all I do is give you a headache.
I’m so busy caught up in moving faster and faster all the time
But I just end up eroding parts of you.
I’m sorry.
I’m sorry I can’t take better care of you
But it’s not just me you’re dealing with
It’s an army. It’s humanity.
We’re sorry.
We’re sorry for setting your forests on fire.
We’re sorry we’ve dealt damage to your defence.
We’re sorry every inch of you reeks of corrupt civilisation
Can’t you see this relationship, you and I,
The one we’ve had my whole life, our whole life,
It’s Toxic!
We’ve dominated you, knocked you down and
Built you back to our standards.
We’ve manipulated you to work for us and only us.
Is this what you’ve been trying to tell me?
All along, these hurricanes, these typhoons, these… signs.
You knew, didn’t you?
You knew we’d try to fix canyons with plasters.
You knew this was a toxic relationship, and you allowed it.
You knew this was never going to work
And you allowed it.

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Buy your copy of issue 1 here.