The Sun Magazine The Sun Magazine, Independent, Reader-Supported Publishing https://www.thesunmagazine.org/rss/articles Connections The people who are connected to us—ancestors, family, friends—inevitably leave their mark on us, and the three poems in our July issue speak to those effects. Julia Kolchinsky’s intricate “Puzzle Pieces” examines complicated inheritances from one generation of her family to another. “The Eleventh Street Irregulars,” by Eric Paul Shaffer, is a spirited, gently funny reminiscence about a group of young men whose friendship keeps them afloat. In “Soup” Jared Harél recalls an indelible memory of his grandfather, revealing a tragic past and an enduring character. The people who are connected to us—ancestors, family, friends—inevitably leave their mark on us, and the three poems in our July issue speak to those effects. Julia Kolchinsky’s intricate “Puzzle Pieces” examines complicated inheritances from one generation of her family to another. “The Eleventh Street Irregulars,” by Eric Paul Shaffer, is a spirited, gently funny reminiscence about a group of young men whose friendship keeps them afloat. In “Soup” Jared Harél recalls an indelible memory of his grandfather, revealing a tragic past and an enduring character.

]]> Wed, 15 Jul 2026 11:21:58 -0400 https://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/29016-connections http://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/29016 To Remain I have been thinking that people all over the world these days are feeling a sense of despair because, like me, they are seeing the destruction of the world as they knew it. But it has occurred to me that the real destruction of my world happened in 1948, when the Palestinians lost Palestine. I have been thinking that people all over the world these days are feeling a sense of despair because, like me, they are seeing the destruction of the world as they knew it. But it has occurred to me that the real destruction of my world happened in 1948, when the Palestinians lost Palestine.

]]> Tue, 30 Jun 2026 12:00:45 -0400 https://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/607-to-remain http://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/29001 607 - Schiel - Hertog Distractions Reading at work, listening to music during labor, swatting gnats while meditating Reading at work, listening to music during labor, swatting gnats while meditating

]]> Tue, 30 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/607-distractions http://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/29015 607 - Hebb - Distractions Contributors Jared Harél’s poetry collection Let Our Bodies Change the Subject won the 2023 Raz/Shumaker Prairie Schooner Book Prize. He lives in Westchester, New York, with his wife and two kids. (jaredharel.com) More

Jared Harél’s poetry collection Let Our Bodies Change the Subject won the 2023 Raz/Shumaker Prairie Schooner Book Prize. He lives in Westchester, New York, with his wife and two kids. (jaredharel.com)

More ]]> Tue, 30 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/607-contributors http://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/29014 607 - Dickert - TOC - Main Correspondence Leath Tonino seems like a nice-enough guy, but that doesn’t mean he should be trusted around facts. In his March 2026 essay, “Eating Free,” he claims to be nearly positive that his grandma’s friend, who gave him homemade chocolates for Christmas thirty-some years ago, was named Dotti. Well, according to Tonino’s father, the woman’s name was actually Dolly. I’d like to see more of Tonino’s work in The Sun, but maybe keep him on a tighter leash in the future? He’s a bit of a mess. It would be a big mistake to leave someone like him in charge of a parakeet for the weekend, let alone a paragraph of so-called nonfiction. Leath Tonino Somewhere in the Colorado Rockies Leath Tonino seems like a nice-enough guy, but that doesn’t mean he should be trusted around facts. In his March 2026 essay, “Eating Free,” he claims to be nearly positive that his grandma’s friend, who gave him homemade chocolates for Christmas thirty-some years ago, was named Dotti. Well, according to Tonino’s father, the woman’s name was actually Dolly.

I’d like to see more of Tonino’s work in The Sun, but maybe keep him on a tighter leash in the future? He’s a bit of a mess. It would be a big mistake to leave someone like him in charge of a parakeet for the weekend, let alone a paragraph of so-called nonfiction.

Leath Tonino
Somewhere in the Colorado Rockies

]]> Tue, 30 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/607-correspondence http://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/29013 Puzzle Pieces He places the misshapen square / in the hole of my face—how easy to complete, to mend us, to turn / what was missing into what is found. He places the misshapen square / in the hole of my face—how easy to complete, to mend us, to turn / what was missing into what is found.

]]> Tue, 30 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/607-puzzle-pieces http://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/29012 Soup At the restaurant with white linens / and candles in glass cups, I remember, / my grandfather sent back the soup. At the restaurant with white linens / and candles in glass cups, I remember, / my grandfather sent back the soup.

]]> Tue, 30 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/607-soup http://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/29011 The Eleventh Street Irregulars After long afternoons restoring the decrepit boat, we watched trains / pass and deciphered riddles in bottle caps we twisted free / with empty hands and our ready, useless strength. After long afternoons restoring the decrepit boat, we watched trains / pass and deciphered riddles in bottle caps we twisted free / with empty hands and our ready, useless strength.

]]> Tue, 30 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/607-the-eleventh-street-irregulars http://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/29010 Sunbeams We seem always ready to pay the price for war. Almost gladly we give our time and our treasure—our limbs and even our lives—for war. But we expect to get peace for nothing. Peace Pilgrim

We seem always ready to pay the price for war. Almost gladly we give our time and our treasure—our limbs and even our lives—for war. But we expect to get peace for nothing.

Peace Pilgrim

]]> Tue, 30 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/607-sunbeams http://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/29009 607 - James - Sunbeams Back Cover Tue, 30 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/607-back-cover http://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/29008 607-BC-Hakim.jpg A Thousand Words A Thousand Words features photography so rich with narrative that it tells a story all on its own. A Thousand Words features photography so rich with narrative that it tells a story all on its own.

]]> Tue, 30 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/607-a-thousand-words http://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/29007 607 - Gorrell - A Thousand Words The Open Marketplace of the End Times Today I remembered the last time I looked out the window. This was months ago. Was I braver then—or more childlike? No, not childlike, as children do not look out their windows either. More naive. More stupidly hopeful. Today I remembered the last time I looked out the window. This was months ago. Was I braver then—or more childlike? No, not childlike, as children do not look out their windows either. More naive. More stupidly hopeful.

]]> Tue, 30 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/607-the-open-marketplace-of-the-end-times http://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/29006 607 - McKinney - Urbanski Fragments from a Pilgrimage I came to plunder the past and found, appropriately, only a bit of play history. What did I expect? I came to plunder the past and found, appropriately, only a bit of play history. What did I expect?

]]> Tue, 30 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/607-fragments-from-a-pilgrimage http://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/29005 607 - Ward - Safransky Hoddernot We posted pictures of ourselves in uniform, desperate to benefit from serving in a war many of us didn’t understand, desperate for a connection and for someone to acknowledge us and, ultimately, acknowledge that a war was going on, that it was real. We posted pictures of ourselves in uniform, desperate to benefit from serving in a war many of us didn’t understand, desperate for a connection and for someone to acknowledge us and, ultimately, acknowledge that a war was going on, that it was real.

]]> Tue, 30 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/607-hoddernot http://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/29004 607 - Rode - Martin No Politics Rabbi Shmuley went over the ground rules: “We are here to learn from each other, not to argue. Certainly not to compete. Don’t deny anyone’s experience. Don’t deny anyone’s subjectivity. And, of course, no politics.” Rabbi Shmuley went over the ground rules: “We are here to learn from each other, not to argue. Certainly not to compete. Don’t deny anyone’s experience. Don’t deny anyone’s subjectivity. And, of course, no politics.”

]]> Tue, 30 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/607-no-politics http://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/29003 607 - Naser - Rechnitz Summer Reading Recommendations Summer is the season of soft serve (mountains of it), peaches and tomatoes, lounge chairs and short-shorts—and, of course, books propped open in the grass, beside the pool, and on the sand. Searching for summer reading of your own? Below, you’ll find recommendations from the writers in our June issue, plus a few favorites from our staff. Lather on that sunscreen, lay out your towel, and enjoy. —Al Favilla, Editorial Assistant Summer is the season of soft serve (mountains of it), peaches and tomatoes, lounge chairs and short-shorts—and, of course, books propped open in the grass, beside the pool, and on the sand.

Searching for summer reading of your own? Below, you’ll find recommendations from the writers in our June issue, plus a few favorites from our staff. Lather on that sunscreen, lay out your towel, and enjoy.

—Al Favilla, Editorial Assistant

]]> Fri, 26 Jun 2026 16:55:32 -0400 https://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/29002-summer-reading-recommendations http://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/29002 The Sun in Portland, Oregon On September 18 and 19, join senior editor Derek Askey at Lucky Labrador Brewing Company in Portland, Oregon, for this hour-and-a-half-long workshop where participants will learn about The Sun’s Readers Write section and draft entries for forthcoming, not-yet-announced topics. As time permits, participants will share work in an open, supportive environment, and have the opportunity to ask questions about submitting writing or the selection/editing process at The Sun. On September 18 and 19, join senior editor Derek Askey  at Lucky Labrador Brewing Company in Portland, Oregon, for this hour-and-a-half-long workshop where participants will learn about The Sun’s Readers Write section and draft entries for forthcoming, not-yet-announced topics. As time permits, participants will share work in an open, supportive environment, and have the opportunity to ask questions about submitting writing or the selection/editing process at The Sun.



]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2026 02:00:38 -0400 https://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/29000-the-sun-in-portland-oregon http://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/29000 New-Release Roundup Recent book releases from Sun authors include a bestselling memoirist’s notes on crafting difficult stories, meditations on the fragility of the natural world, and a poet’s hilarious and incisive observations about life in the Sunshine State. Pick one up today and support these wonderful writers.—Ed. Recent book releases from Sun authors include a bestselling memoirist’s notes on crafting difficult stories, meditations on the fragility of the natural world, and a poet’s hilarious and incisive observations about life in the Sunshine State. Pick one up today and support these wonderful writers.—Ed.

]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2026 01:00:36 -0400 https://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/28999-new-release-roundup http://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/28999 A Poem for World Infertility Awareness Month Infertility is a struggle many face in silence, without the support of their community. Kelly Grace Thomas’s poem “To the Woman Sitting Next to Me in the Infertility Clinic” captures that sense of isolation as well as the impulse to reach out to one another. Though the poem won’t appear in the magazine until later this year, we are sharing it online now to coincide with World Infertility Awareness Month. Infertility is a struggle many face in silence, without the support of their community. Kelly Grace Thomas’s poem “To the Woman Sitting Next to Me in the Infertility Clinic” captures that sense of isolation as well as the impulse to reach out to one another. Though the poem won’t appear in the magazine until later this year, we are sharing it online now to coincide with World Infertility Awareness Month.

]]> Thu, 11 Jun 2026 13:50:16 -0400 https://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/28998-to-the-woman-sitting-next-to-me-in-the-fertility-clinic http://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/28998 Making Do Life inevitably brings annoyances and inconveniences our way, and we all have our own methods of getting through them. In her poem “Because I became allergic to chocolate when I was seventeen,” Shuly Cawood writes about how she coped with what I consider a truly tragic allergy. Alison Luterman, who’s stuck at home while her friends text her from their vacations, escapes by taking walks around her neighborhood, as she recounts in “City Chickens. Life inevitably brings annoyances and inconveniences our way, and we all have our own methods of getting through them. In her poem “Because I became allergic to chocolate when I was seventeen,” Shuly Cawood writes about how she coped with what I consider a truly tragic allergy. Alison Luterman, who’s stuck at home while her friends text her from their vacations, escapes by taking walks around her neighborhood, as she recounts in “City Chickens.

]]> Thu, 11 Jun 2026 13:50:04 -0400 https://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/28997-making-do http://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/28997 Home Is the Place In her essay “The Good End of Pleasant Street,” which appears in our June issue, Heather Lanier and her family move into an apartment that’s part dream, part unfortunate reality. Their new place is in a beautiful Vermont town and has affordable rent. However, it’s also got lead paint, loud neighbors, and proximity to the town’s heroin crisis. All of this leaves the author continually wondering whether she’s living at what local residents call the “good end” or the “bad end” of Pleasant Street. In her essay “The Good End of Pleasant Street,” which appears in our June issue, Heather Lanier and her family move into an apartment that’s part dream, part unfortunate reality. Their new place is in a beautiful Vermont town and has affordable rent. However, it’s also got lead paint, loud neighbors, and proximity to the town’s heroin crisis. All of this leaves the author continually wondering whether she’s living at what local residents call the “good end” or the “bad end” of Pleasant Street.

]]> Thu, 04 Jun 2026 01:00:14 -0400 https://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/28996-home-is-the-place http://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/28996 Standards of Care The reason Black women were used to develop the field of gynecology was because they were no more than property. They weren’t seen as people; they were just seen as things. The controlling of Black women’s bodies started with chattel slavery, but it continues today. The reason Black women were used to develop the field of gynecology was because they were no more than property. They weren’t seen as people; they were just seen as things. The controlling of Black women’s bodies started with chattel slavery, but it continues today.

]]> Sun, 31 May 2026 15:00:45 -0400 https://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/606-standards-of-care http://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/28985 606 - Wild - Pitts The Empty Room Inside Each of Us Crumb is always right, always the one telling the story, always the one who turns the drab, lonesome plains they call home into a world that’s dramatic and necessary. Crumb is always right, always the one telling the story, always the one who turns the drab, lonesome plains they call home into a world that’s dramatic and necessary.

]]> Sun, 31 May 2026 15:00:00 -0400 https://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/606-the-empty-room-inside-each-of-us http://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/28992 606 - Pedersen - Wilkins Because I became allergic to chocolate when I was seventeen because a rash spread on my chest when I ate mole sauce at Sanborns; because acne populated my face every time I drank hot cocoa; because I believed it to be easy to give up something I loved because a rash spread on my chest when I ate mole sauce at Sanborns; because acne populated my face every time I drank hot cocoa; because I believed it to be easy to give up something I loved

]]> Sun, 31 May 2026 15:00:00 -0400 https://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/606-because-i-became-allergic-to-chocolate-when-i-was-seventeen http://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/28991 City Chickens I never thought // I’d end up like this, domesticated as a pet lamb, / with a mate who worries our hundred-year-old house // needs new everything, shingles to foundation. I never thought // I’d end up like this, domesticated as a pet lamb, / with a mate who worries our hundred-year-old house // needs new everything, shingles to foundation.

]]> Sun, 31 May 2026 15:00:00 -0400 https://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/606-city-chickens http://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/28990 606 - Estep - Luterman Formed Otherwise There’s a presumption that to raise a child with disabilities makes you brave. I wasn’t brave. I wasn’t always a stellar mother, either. But I studied my daughter as if she were an ancient text to see what was beneath the chatter and the rage. There’s a presumption that to raise a child with disabilities makes you brave. I wasn’t brave. I wasn’t always a stellar mother, either. But I studied my daughter as if she were an ancient text to see what was beneath the chatter and the rage.

]]> Sun, 31 May 2026 15:00:00 -0400 https://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/606-formed-otherwise http://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/28989 606 - Epli - Bernstein The Feeding Some leeches have two jaws. Others have three. Some have teeth on their tongues. There are protective leeches who hover over their eggs, and leeches who carry their newborns in pouches like tiny kangaroos. Some leeches have two jaws. Others have three. Some have teeth on their tongues. There are protective leeches who hover over their eggs, and leeches who carry their newborns in pouches like tiny kangaroos.

]]> Sun, 31 May 2026 15:00:00 -0400 https://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/606-the-feeding http://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/28988 606 - Rios - Glatt The Good End of Pleasant Street When our landlords came by to introduce themselves, they stood beside a shelf of our books on how to avoid suffering: “Develop a mind that clings to nothing,” said the Buddhist Diamond Sutra; Be Here Now, read the spine of a Ram Dass book. Dan was a general contractor and wore a flat cap and a half grin. Or a sneer. I wasn’t sure which. When our landlords came by to introduce themselves, they stood beside a shelf of our books on how to avoid suffering: “Develop a mind that clings to nothing,” said the Buddhist Diamond Sutra; Be Here Now, read the spine of a Ram Dass book. Dan was a general contractor and wore a flat cap and a half grin. Or a sneer. I wasn’t sure which.

]]> Sun, 31 May 2026 15:00:00 -0400 https://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/606-the-good-end-of-pleasant-street http://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/28987 606 - Easley - Lanier Our Fraying Hearts I have a sense of the drama people want to hear about, but most days our ER is filled with abdominal pain and vomiting—nothing like what you’re accustomed to seeing on TV. I have a sense of the drama people want to hear about, but most days our ER is filled with abdominal pain and vomiting—nothing like what you’re accustomed to seeing on TV.

]]> Sun, 31 May 2026 15:00:00 -0400 https://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/606-our-fraying-hearts http://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/28986 606 - Taher - Reinbold Sunbeams God and the Doctor we alike adore / But only when in danger, not before; / The danger o’er, both are alike requited, / God is forgotten, and the Doctor slighted. John Owen

God and the Doctor we alike adore / But only when in danger, not before; / The danger o’er, both are alike requited, / God is forgotten, and the Doctor slighted.

John Owen

]]> Sun, 31 May 2026 15:00:00 -0400 https://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/606-sunbeams http://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/28984 606 - Wild - Sunbeams