The Hopper

“What is a weed? A plant out of place—according to humans. In Kent, I am a human out of place. No wonder I have an affinity with weeds.” Read “The Lockdown Botanist” by Rachel Sloan with art by Mia Risberg: hoppermag.org/the-lockdown-b…

“In the last year, I have chased an urge to create beyond my comfort zone.” See H. Lee Messina’s art: hoppermag.org/h-lee-messina

“My body, an ecosystem of dirt-stuffed heart cockles” Read “The Seed” by @lumen_arcanum, with art by H. Lee Messina: hoppermag.org/the-seed

“Tre Vattenfall is a short videography project, inspired by the fluid and interchangeable relationship between time and space from an observer’s point of view.” See Samaré Gozal’s short film here: hoppermag.org/samare-gozal-2

“Sam’s worried about the fawns. It’s been a few days since we’ve seen any of the herd.” Read Chris Sheehan’s short story, “Half-Frightened Wild Animals,” with art by Johanna Finnegan Topitzer: hoppermag.org/half-frightene…

“These small drawings capture what I perceive as moments of stillness in my life.” View Mia Risberg’s art: hoppermag.org/mia-risberg

“Finally the sap begins to flow and peepers eager in tree-cities start up a thousand tiny rhythmic saws” Read “Just This” by Janet MacFadyen, with art by Johanna Finnegan-Topitzer: hoppermag.org/just-this

“The hair on the back of Robin’s neck prickled when she felt the wing-wind of a great horned owl swoop powerfully close…” Read “Don’t Look at the Owls” by Audacia Ray, with art by Johanna Finnegan-Topitzer: hoppermag.org/dont-look-at-t…

“It doesn’t matter who you love but what you’ll do about it once you love them.” Read “Rynchops” by @mollykugel with art by John Schmitz: hoppermag.org/rynchops

“. . . as anyone who has spent much time in the kingdom of fungi knows, these binaries don’t really exist.” Read “Unclean: What Foraging Wild Fungi Taught Me About Impurity Culture” by Sophia Moss with art by H. Lee Messina: hoppermag.org/unclean

“The artworks are intended to promote reflection on the power, importance, and beauty of the earth’s oceans and the critical role ongoing research will play in understanding and maintaining it.” See artwork by Beric Henderson: hoppermag.org/beric-henderson

Pride Month reading list, featuring work by Hopper contributors Sophia Moss and Audacia Ray!

“Where do you feel the world’s sinews? The close clouds at night. The Milky Way’s
birthmark on the stomach of the sky.” Read “Wyoming Litany” by Barbara Duffey, with art by H. Lee Messina: hoppermag.org/wyoming-litany

Congratulations to the CLMP members with new issues out this month—including @AdiMagazine, @AfterDinnerCon, @anotherchimag, @BostonReview, @ScriptorP, @full_bleed, @hopper_mag, @TheHudsonReview, @LEspritLit & more lit mags! clmp.org/news/may-2024-…

“With winter not far off, she prayed for rain or snow, or both, some moisture from the sky that could fill her rain barrels or the many buckets she left out in the yard.” Read “The Presence of Water” by Lena Hari, with art by John Schmitz: hoppermag.org/the-presence-o…

“Above palm leaves thatching corrugated roofs,
a frigatebird rises along a thermal updraft, waking
from a stint of aerial sleep” Read “Urban Whims of Some Birds” by Efren Laya Cruzada, with art by Beric Henderson: hoppermag.org/urban-whims-of…

“I’ve drawn palm trees for most of my life. When I draw them, I start as I do with most sketches: I gaze out, widen my eyes, and take in.” Read “Reading Palms” by Jolie Kaytes, with images by the author: hoppermag.org/reading-palms

“Brisk fish swim under glassy pools
reflecting birds which limn the limits
of shadows spilled across the schools” Read “Twilight on the River” by Will Cordeiro with art by Johanna Finnegan-Topitzer: hoppermag.org/twilight-on-th…

“Over the stone wall and into the underbrush the trail is harder to find. … The displaced leaves tell the story of bodies dragged from beds still warm. An abduction in broad daylight.” Read “Hobby Farming” by Alyssa Crogan with art by H. Lee Messina: hoppermag.org/hobby-farming

“Deer do not like the scent of human hair.
Farmers scatter clumps to guard crops and roses.
I shed while walking, each strand whiter, bold . . .” Read “Readying the Return” by @hfbourbeau with art by Johanna Finnegan-Topitzer: hoppermag.org/readying-the-r…