MSU Roadrunner Review
December 2021
Poetry
and the blessing by McKenna Themm
Shuck by Pilar Garcia
Lockjaw by Jasmine Flowers
Primordial Hymn — after “Pilot Verse” by Matt W. Miller by Jasmine Flowers
I’m Tired of the Grief by Madeline Tecmire
Tradition by Natalie Martusciello
The Thing with Feathers by Arista Engineer
Fiction
Morning by Melissa Paulsen
Battery Life by A.P. Joye
Banks of the Ohio by Malcolm Culleton
Flash Fiction
Juliet, Turned by Rylee Thomas
Only One by Ryan Perez
Creative Nonfiction
And I Was Angry: I Am Angry by Azlynn Brandenburg
Gamma by Jesse Sanders
Playing Doctor by Matt Zytkoskee
Visual Art
Injustice by Reem El Saadi
Editorial Staff
Note: all genre editors also participated as part of the broader editorial board to make final selections in fiction, flash fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and visual arts.
Fiction and flash fiction editor Keith Schooler, a Senior at Metropolitan State University in Denver, has always possessed a passion for writing. When he isn’t working, Keith enjoys spending his free time with his wife, three kids, two dogs, and two birds. Keith served in the U.S. Army for four years where he was bitten by the international travel bug. Keith’s hobbies include reading, hiking, scuba diving, tennis, and playing Dungeons & Dragons.
Fiction editor Kristen Simpson is a senior at Metropolitan State University in Denver, Colorado, majoring in English with an emphasis in creative writing. Her poem “Down Comes the War” will be published in the next edition of Metropolitan State University’s Metrosphere, and her CNF short story “Pot Roast for Twelve” will be published in the spring edition of JEMS Books Tummy Tale Series. When she isn’t writing or reading fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, she can be found playing the piano, painting, drawing, enjoying the outdoors, sewing, or crocheting crooked hats and scarves.
Flash fiction, experimental fiction, and visual arts editor James M Knott is a senior working on a dual major in the creative writing and philosophy programs at MSU Denver. After serving in the United States Marine Corps, he found a new home in academia where he hopes to one day find a permanent station as a professor. He is also is the Social Media Manager for the MSU Roadrunner Review.
Flash fiction editor Lalla Boufadize graduated from the Community College of Denver with an Associate of Science and then changed career paths, pursuing a Bachelors in English with a minor in Rhetoric, Composition, and Professional Writing. She is currently a senior and member of the MSU Denver Honors Club. She is on target to graduate in Fall of 2022 with the hopes of traveling abroad to teach English.
Poetry editor Elizabeth DesRosiers is graduating in Spring 2022 with her Bachelor’s in English and Linguistics at MSU Denver. When she is not stress-sweating over poorly-written creative works of her own, she is reading much-less-poorly-written ones in her favorite literary journals. She lives for art, her cat son Gambino, and good deodorant. Elizabeth created the cover for this edition of the MSU Roadrunner Review.
Poetry editor Brice Maiurro is a poet from Denver, CO. He is also the Editor-in-Chief of the South Broadway Press. He has authored two full-length poetry collections, Stupid Flowers and Hero Victim Villain. He is seeking his Bachelor’s in English and minor in Spanish at MSU Denver.
Creative Nonfiction editor Scott Cremer will be graduating from MSU Denver with a BA in English/Composition in Spring 2022. He works as a tutor with the MSUD Writing Center and hopes to take on an editorial position at Metrosphere during his final semester. In addition to writing (mostly) poetry and short fiction, he plays music, draws, and paints.
Creative Nonfiction editor Ruby Whitehead is a sophomore double majoring in English with a concentration in creative writing, and Psychology with a clinical concentration. She has always loved to write, even from a young age. In her free time, she writes creative non-fiction and poetry. When she isn’t writing, she is spending time with her five year old son and savannah cat. After graduation she plans to attend law school.
Managing Editors: Dr. J Eric Miller and Dr. Cynthia Kuhn
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