Volume 4, Number 1 (2004)

This fourth volume of Harpur Palate begins immediately with its John Gardner Memorial prize winner “The Singer, by Sarah Giles, a short story that uses the varying accounts of those in the city of Libon to tell the story of a singer leaving retirement. It is the second issue to feature a section dedicated to art outside of literature, with photographs provided by Janine Gelaneu. In terms of poetry, this issue has a couple of animal related pieces, with Marvin Bell’s “Decoys Left Behind” pertaining to ducks, and Jack Ridl’s “On Our Dog’s Birthday” highlighting the considerate nature of an old dog. This issue’s stories range from reminiscing about old memories, and discovering new family truths in Paul Michel’s “Just to Say No” to the comedic small-town-drama of returning author Alice Stern’s “Marching Eggs”.