shields of fury

Poem by Deeti Gupta

Do you see the fury in her eyes?
Blazing crimson embers radiate from her
As she stares down anyone
Who dares to look at her.

Do you see the warning in her eyes?
Like flashing lights,
Asking others to keep their distance.
One hand in her pocket –
Gripping a key between her fingers,
Ready to attack.

Do you see the fear in her eyes?
The anger attempts to mask it,
But her heart is pounding
As she thinks of all the sisters she lost
And hopes she never has any use
Of the can in her bag.

A smile of relief 
As she sets foot into the women’s compartment.
Amid blazing fires of women warring for seats,
You can see the love in her eyes
As she’s surrounded by her kind —
United by experiences, their lives intertwined.

The fires unite into a deeper shade of anger
As a man tries to step foot
And ruin the bubble of safety
That lasts all but an hour

Every day of their lives.

Do you see their eyes turn red —
In fury and warning and fear —
The second they step off the train?
Hands grasping for safety,
Eyes darting around 
Music pausing, fake phone calls starting.

Do you see as she puts on her jacket,
Covers herself up as she walks home?
The flame in her eyes
Makes them look away.
No blood was spilled —
But that’s just today.

Will they look past her anger tomorrow?
Notice the fear seeping through?
Will the keys and spray and countless videos work?
Or will the next story be hers?
The ground turns crimson from blood somewhere
As someone else’s facade is torn down,
While she remains safe.

For now.

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G5A imprint presents its second print edition. This physical magazine is a selection of the work published, digitally, in Volumes 05 to 09. This Edition 2 of the magazine features selected pieces from our digital edition alongside some pieces exclusively for print.

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editor's note

Volume 10

contact | shadow | fringe

I’ve been reflecting on the theme for our tenth volume, a lovely milestone that coincides serendipitously with the warehouse’s tenth year, and how it feels apt for the moment we find ourselves in currently. The theme straddles a threshold. The movement from this side to the far side. It isn’t inherently accompanied by an emotion. And yet, I feel it suggests a sense of hopefulness. 

This isn’t in a vacuum but is influenced by two events that concern themselves with a tremendous threshold: our atmosphere and the expanse beyond it. I am referring to the successful flyby mission around the moon by the Artemis II and the release of the film “Project Hail Mary” (adapted from Andy Weir’s novel of the same name). These two events, coinciding in this manner, serve less as random happenstance and more as a reminder, as Carl Sagan said, “The Cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff.” A reminder that everything out there, is also everything in here. It serves as a reminder for hope that as we resume our exploration of the darkest depths of the universe, we must take that strength to step forward from our own personal shadows.

Shadows can be freeing. There is comfort in creating, expressing, and working without scrutiny or pressure or expectation. It has potential for great freedom, movement, and discovery. However, when the driving force isn’t exploration then it can be crippling and lead to paralysis. In those moments, “coincidental” events like these can be arresting and provide a sense of hope that the next step is all that matters. One step at a time soon becomes many past an imposing threshold. As we gather momentum, pressure is bound to build. It is here, with changed circumstances, that the intention must persevere. Learning the rules, allows the impact of breaking them to feel that much sweeter, but that isn’t necessary. Acting from pure instinct allows for an innate expression to present itself. It is balancing this, instinct versus experience, that proves vital to take experience into one’s stride with child-like instinct and intention.

Our focus, at imprint and G5A, on independent stories allows this freedom. It is something we work to preserve so that the experience of ten volumes and ten years, respectively, does not weigh us down but lifts us up through the shadows and into the expanse. This is not easy but it is simple. When you default to curiosity and wonder, it isn’t a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when’.

We’re excited for Volume 10 and everything it will hold.