{"id":3320,"date":"2022-10-07T13:08:30","date_gmt":"2022-10-07T17:08:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/variantlit.com\/?page_id=3320"},"modified":"2022-10-07T13:08:30","modified_gmt":"2022-10-07T17:08:30","slug":"pinioning","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/variantlit.com\/pinioning\/","title":{"rendered":"Pinioning"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Advent Pro||||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

Pinioning<\/span><\/strong><\/h1>\n

Josh Bettinger<\/h3>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||-2px|||” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|||||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Josefin Slab||||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.2em” custom_padding=”|0px||0px||” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

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I am still impressionable.<\/span> <\/span>At least<\/span>
that is the<\/span> <\/span>measure<\/span> <\/span>I lend my dreams<\/span><\/div>\n

when they have a hard time restarting<\/span>
in the stolen screenlight<\/span><\/div>\n

of our<\/span> <\/span>brief<\/span> <\/span>interactions<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>We scuttle<\/span>
a dynasty of furtives<\/span><\/div>\n

moving across each other in the<\/span> <\/span>hallway<\/span>
penumbras<\/span> <\/span>of our<\/span> <\/span>home<\/span>;<\/span> <\/span>some<\/span> <\/span>bees<\/span><\/div>\n

in the hemlock,<\/span> <\/span>car<\/span>–<\/span>shaped<\/span>
thistle, neighbors in a roundabout sa<\/span>d<\/span>ness<\/span>\u2014<\/span><\/div>\n

this<\/span> <\/span>entire<\/span> <\/span>universe<\/span> <\/span>of water to<\/span> <\/span>wade<\/span> <\/span>in.<\/span>
When<\/span> <\/span>we lift each other up we become<\/span><\/div>\n

a consecutive mechanism to get away with,<\/span>
or from,<\/span> <\/span>flight without flight; arms<\/span> <\/span>un<\/span>ending<\/span><\/div>\n

except for their<\/span> <\/span>ends<\/span>. I<\/span> <\/span>believe<\/span>
that<\/span> <\/span>we<\/span> <\/span>object<\/span> <\/span>for<\/span> <\/span>the heart like a<\/span> <\/span>surgeon<\/span>.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Josefin Slab||||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ text_font_size=”16px” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

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Josh Bettinger<\/strong> is the author of the chapbook A Dynamic Range Of Various Designs For Quiet (2019), from GASHER. Recent publications include Handsome Poetry, SLICE, flock, Columbia Journal, Atlas Review, Crazyhorse, and Boston Review, among others. He lives in Northern California with his family.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”|auto|-100px|auto||” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/variantlit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Color-Print-Logo-with-full-text-1.jpg&#8221<\/a>; title_text=”Color-Print-Logo-with-full-text-1″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” positioning=”relative” vertical_offset=”50px”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/variantlit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/ncwn-logo.jpg&#8221<\/a>; title_text=”ncwn-logo” _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” positioning=”relative” vertical_offset=”50px”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_signup provider=”mailpoet” mailpoet_list=”Variant Literature|3″ title=”Subscribe to our Newsletter” _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” form_field_background_color=”#000000″ form_field_text_color=”#FFFFFF” header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#000000″ background_color=”#FFFFFF” custom_button=”on” button_text_color=”#000000″ button_bg_color=”#FFFFFF” button_border_width=”6px” button_border_color=”#000000″ button_border_radius=”20px”][\/et_pb_signup][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”81px||4px|||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n

\u00a9 Variant Literature Inc 2021<\/em><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Pinioning Josh Bettinger I am still impressionable. At leastthat is the measure I lend my dreams when they have a hard time restartingin the stolen screenlight of our brief interactions. We scuttlea dynasty of furtives moving across each other in the hallwaypenumbras of our home; some bees in the hemlock, car-shapedthistle, neighbors in a roundabout […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":159740901,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"

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VIGNETTE OF A BOY LOST IN THE DUNES OF DREAM<\/strong><\/h1>

Samuel Ajani<\/h3>

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.9.10\" _module_preset=\"default\" custom_margin=\"||-2px|||\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px|||\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.9.10\" _module_preset=\"default\" custom_padding=\"0px|||||\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.9.10\" _module_preset=\"default\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.9.10\" _module_preset=\"default\" text_font=\"Josefin Slab||||||||\" text_text_color=\"#000000\" text_font_size=\"16px\" text_line_height=\"1.2em\" custom_padding=\"|0px||0px||\" hover_enabled=\"0\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"]<\/p>

behind<\/span> the<\/span> \u00ecr\u00f3k\u00f2<\/span> tree, I sat, head buried<\/span>
into<\/span> the burrow<\/span> of my arms<\/span> like chitons<\/span>
in a<\/span> stream<\/span> of<\/span> boulders. the burning<\/span> breeze leapt<\/span>
into<\/span> tingles\u2014darkness smooched the sky<\/span>
into<\/span> a<\/span> splurge<\/span> of stars. my<\/span> phone rang<\/span>
&<\/span> it<\/span> was my<\/span> mother. she prayed,<\/span>
boy,<\/span> <\/em>may you return home<\/em>\u2014<\/span>
which<\/span> is to<\/span> say<\/span> my brother<\/span> went<\/span>
&<\/span> the<\/span> field<\/span> became a grave\u2014which is<\/span>
to say<\/span> my name<\/span> is<\/span> hope<\/span> & my<\/span> body, a light<\/span>
at the<\/span> end<\/span> of her tunnel.<\/span>
I<\/span> fell<\/span> silent like the decibels of an<\/span> anechoic chamber.<\/span>
it's<\/span> my<\/span> 22nd year & my palms are still barren<\/span>
like<\/span> the scalp<\/span> of an octogenarian.<\/span>
see,<\/span> I<\/span> have<\/span> wandered too long in the<\/span> wasteland<\/span>
like<\/span> a<\/span> waxwing<\/span> in the art<\/span> of seeking.<\/span>
I<\/span> held<\/span> too<\/span> long<\/span> to this rope of dreams\u2014<\/span>
when<\/span> will these<\/span> muon of dust metamorphose<\/span>
into<\/span> a<\/span> body<\/span> of<\/span> light? when<\/span> will these<\/span> pages<\/span>
of poems musicalize into vocals of a<\/span> song?<\/span>
when<\/span> will this<\/span> body cultivate an orchard of joy?<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/div><\/div><\/div>
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\u00a0<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.9.10\" _module_preset=\"default\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.9.10\" _module_preset=\"default\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.9.10\" _module_preset=\"default\" text_font=\"Josefin Slab||||||||\" text_text_color=\"#000000\" text_font_size=\"16px\" hover_enabled=\"0\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"]<\/p>

Ajani Samuel Victor<\/strong>, Frontier II, is a black writer from the trenches. His work has appeared\/forthcoming on Blue marble Review, TST Review, Roughcut Press, Augment Review, and elsewhere. He was the winner of 2021 Prisoner of Love Poetry Contest.<\/p><\/div><\/div>

\u00a0<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\u00a0<\/div>

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_3,1_3,1_3\" _builder_version=\"4.9.10\" _module_preset=\"default\" custom_margin=\"|auto|-100px|auto||\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px|||\"][et_pb_column type=\"1_3\" _builder_version=\"4.9.10\" _module_preset=\"default\"][et_pb_image src=\"https:\/\/variantlit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Color-Print-Logo-with-full-text-1.jpg\" title_text=\"Color-Print-Logo-with-full-text-1\" _builder_version=\"4.9.10\" _module_preset=\"default\" positioning=\"relative\" vertical_offset=\"50px\"][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\"1_3\" _builder_version=\"4.9.10\" _module_preset=\"default\"][et_pb_image src=\"https:\/\/variantlit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/ncwn-logo.jpg\" title_text=\"ncwn-logo\" _builder_version=\"4.9.10\" _module_preset=\"default\" positioning=\"relative\" vertical_offset=\"50px\"][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\"1_3\" _builder_version=\"4.9.10\" _module_preset=\"default\"][et_pb_signup provider=\"mailpoet\" mailpoet_list=\"Variant Literature|3\" title=\"Subscribe to our Newsletter\" _builder_version=\"4.9.10\" _module_preset=\"default\" form_field_background_color=\"#000000\" form_field_text_color=\"#FFFFFF\" header_text_align=\"center\" header_text_color=\"#000000\" background_color=\"#FFFFFF\" custom_button=\"on\" button_text_color=\"#000000\" button_bg_color=\"#FFFFFF\" button_border_width=\"6px\" button_border_color=\"#000000\" button_border_radius=\"20px\"][\/et_pb_signup][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.9.10\" _module_preset=\"default\" custom_padding=\"81px||4px|||\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.9.10\" _module_preset=\"default\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.9.10\" _module_preset=\"default\"]<\/p>

\u00a9 Variant Literature Inc 2021<\/em><\/p>

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