Purity

Ember West

A boy sits next to me

in class, his pulse warm

through the space between

our two bodies—

space like spring, pungent

with possibilities that tremble

the way a blossom does before

the sweet plum emerges.

Just friends we stay,

our hearts secure. Because

love clouds the mind

like the pink tinged underbellies

of sunset dragons with

yawning maws that swallow

the end of the day

I never fell in love with you.

Jadzia Jula

Biography: My name is Jadzia Jula, I a graphic designer and multidisciplinary artist. My inspiration comes from everyday interactions. I find beauty in everything I do. My skills primarily include graphic design, photography, and art direction.

Artist Statement: My vision is to find the desire in my heart and continue living for it. This piece was created after a long period of self-doubt. I decided it was time to change. I sat down and listened to everyone around me. Taking in every word and making it a lesson. The ultimate message I received was to try and find the desire in my heart. This is the whole point.

Ember West

Biography: Ember has always been a writer but she learned how to be many other things first: mother, lover, bird watcher, teacher, doula. She loves hiking, especially trails that end in the sea, and her favorite part of gardening is tending her compost piles. Her latest project is renovating an old lean-to shed into the perfect hut in which to practice literary witchcraft.

Artist Statement: The innocence of young love blooms under the loom of purity culture but the threats and scare tactics of abstinence only sex-ed choke it out before it can blossom. I have a vision of a world where kids are free to explore their feelings and grown-ups help them be safe instead of scared.