Winter Issue Research Articles

Ana’s Face

The Winter 2015-16 issue of Ploughshares. Ploughshares is an award-winning journal of new writing. Two out of each year’s three issues are guest-edited by prominent writers who explore different personal visions, aesthetics, and literary circles, with the Winter issue staff-edited. The stories, poems, and essays that comprise this staff-edited issue of Ploughshares are diverse and timely. Visit a South African laundromat in Laurie Baker’s short story, “Here I Am, Laughing with Boers”; fly over the American midwest in George Bilgere’s poem, “Way Above Illinois”; and read about life as a border patrol agent in New Mexico in Francisco Cantú’s essay, “Bajadas.” The pieces jump from Manhattan to China to Idaho, but the common thread of humanity is never lost. Read new prose from Meng Jin, Ryan Ruff Smith, and Joan Murray, and poetry from Matthew Lippman, Natalie Shapero, and more. The winners of our Emerging Writer’s Contest appear here, along with the announcement of our Zacharis Award winner. This issue is dedicated to William H. Berman (1936-2015), an advisory board member and Emerson College overseer.

Heidi Klum

The Winter 2015-16 issue of Ploughshares. Ploughshares is an award-winning journal of new writing. Two out of each year’s three issues are guest-edited by prominent writers who explore different personal visions, aesthetics, and literary circles, with the Winter issue staff-edited. The stories, poems, and essays that comprise this staff-edited issue of Ploughshares are diverse and timely. Visit a South African laundromat in Laurie Baker’s short story, “Here I Am, Laughing with Boers”; fly over the American midwest in George Bilgere’s poem, “Way Above Illinois”; and read about life as a border patrol agent in New Mexico in Francisco Cantú’s essay, “Bajadas.” The pieces jump from Manhattan to China to Idaho, but the common thread of humanity is never lost. Read new prose from Meng Jin, Ryan Ruff Smith, and Joan Murray, and poetry from Matthew Lippman, Natalie Shapero, and more. The winners of our Emerging Writer’s Contest appear here, along with the announcement of our Zacharis Award winner. This issue is dedicated to William H. Berman (1936-2015), an advisory board member and Emerson College overseer.

Collectors

The Winter 2015-16 issue of Ploughshares. Ploughshares is an award-winning journal of new writing. Two out of each year’s three issues are guest-edited by prominent writers who explore different personal visions, aesthetics, and literary circles, with the Winter issue staff-edited. The stories, poems, and essays that comprise this staff-edited issue of Ploughshares are diverse and timely. Visit a South African laundromat in Laurie Baker’s short story, “Here I Am, Laughing with Boers”; fly over the American midwest in George Bilgere’s poem, “Way Above Illinois”; and read about life as a border patrol agent in New Mexico in Francisco Cantú’s essay, “Bajadas.” The pieces jump from Manhattan to China to Idaho, but the common thread of humanity is never lost. Read new prose from Meng Jin, Ryan Ruff Smith, and Joan Murray, and poetry from Matthew Lippman, Natalie Shapero, and more. The winners of our Emerging Writer’s Contest appear here, along with the announcement of our Zacharis Award winner. This issue is dedicated to William H. Berman (1936-2015), an advisory board member and Emerson College overseer.

Teacup This

The Winter 2015-16 issue of Ploughshares. Ploughshares is an award-winning journal of new writing. Two out of each year’s three issues are guest-edited by prominent writers who explore different personal visions, aesthetics, and literary circles, with the Winter issue staff-edited. The stories, poems, and essays that comprise this staff-edited issue of Ploughshares are diverse and timely. Visit a South African laundromat in Laurie Baker’s short story, “Here I Am, Laughing with Boers”; fly over the American midwest in George Bilgere’s poem, “Way Above Illinois”; and read about life as a border patrol agent in New Mexico in Francisco Cantú’s essay, “Bajadas.” The pieces jump from Manhattan to China to Idaho, but the common thread of humanity is never lost. Read new prose from Meng Jin, Ryan Ruff Smith, and Joan Murray, and poetry from Matthew Lippman, Natalie Shapero, and more. The winners of our Emerging Writer’s Contest appear here, along with the announcement of our Zacharis Award winner. This issue is dedicated to William H. Berman (1936-2015), an advisory board member and Emerson College overseer.

Iowa, Redux

The Winter 2015-16 issue of Ploughshares. Ploughshares is an award-winning journal of new writing. Two out of each year’s three issues are guest-edited by prominent writers who explore different personal visions, aesthetics, and literary circles, with the Winter issue staff-edited. The stories, poems, and essays that comprise this staff-edited issue of Ploughshares are diverse and timely. Visit a South African laundromat in Laurie Baker’s short story, “Here I Am, Laughing with Boers”; fly over the American midwest in George Bilgere’s poem, “Way Above Illinois”; and read about life as a border patrol agent in New Mexico in Francisco Cantú’s essay, “Bajadas.” The pieces jump from Manhattan to China to Idaho, but the common thread of humanity is never lost. Read new prose from Meng Jin, Ryan Ruff Smith, and Joan Murray, and poetry from Matthew Lippman, Natalie Shapero, and more. The winners of our Emerging Writer’s Contest appear here, along with the announcement of our Zacharis Award winner. This issue is dedicated to William H. Berman (1936-2015), an advisory board member and Emerson College overseer.

Babies and Bagpipes

The Winter 2015-16 issue of Ploughshares. Ploughshares is an award-winning journal of new writing. Two out of each year’s three issues are guest-edited by prominent writers who explore different personal visions, aesthetics, and literary circles, with the Winter issue staff-edited. The stories, poems, and essays that comprise this staff-edited issue of Ploughshares are diverse and timely. Visit a South African laundromat in Laurie Baker’s short story, “Here I Am, Laughing with Boers”; fly over the American midwest in George Bilgere’s poem, “Way Above Illinois”; and read about life as a border patrol agent in New Mexico in Francisco Cantú’s essay, “Bajadas.” The pieces jump from Manhattan to China to Idaho, but the common thread of humanity is never lost. Read new prose from Meng Jin, Ryan Ruff Smith, and Joan Murray, and poetry from Matthew Lippman, Natalie Shapero, and more. The winners of our Emerging Writer’s Contest appear here, along with the announcement of our Zacharis Award winner. This issue is dedicated to William H. Berman (1936-2015), an advisory board member and Emerson College overseer.

Untitled

The Winter 2015-16 issue of Ploughshares. Ploughshares is an award-winning journal of new writing. Two out of each year’s three issues are guest-edited by prominent writers who explore different personal visions, aesthetics, and literary circles, with the Winter issue staff-edited. The stories, poems, and essays that comprise this staff-edited issue of Ploughshares are diverse and timely. Visit a South African laundromat in Laurie Baker’s short story, “Here I Am, Laughing with Boers”; fly over the American midwest in George Bilgere’s poem, “Way Above Illinois”; and read about life as a border patrol agent in New Mexico in Francisco Cantú’s essay, “Bajadas.” The pieces jump from Manhattan to China to Idaho, but the common thread of humanity is never lost. Read new prose from Meng Jin, Ryan Ruff Smith, and Joan Murray, and poetry from Matthew Lippman, Natalie Shapero, and more. The winners of our Emerging Writer’s Contest appear here, along with the announcement of our Zacharis Award winner. This issue is dedicated to William H. Berman (1936-2015), an advisory board member and Emerson College overseer.

The Mirror

The Winter 2015-16 issue of Ploughshares. Ploughshares is an award-winning journal of new writing. Two out of each year’s three issues are guest-edited by prominent writers who explore different personal visions, aesthetics, and literary circles, with the Winter issue staff-edited. The stories, poems, and essays that comprise this staff-edited issue of Ploughshares are diverse and timely. Visit a South African laundromat in Laurie Baker’s short story, “Here I Am, Laughing with Boers”; fly over the American midwest in George Bilgere’s poem, “Way Above Illinois”; and read about life as a border patrol agent in New Mexico in Francisco Cantú’s essay, “Bajadas.” The pieces jump from Manhattan to China to Idaho, but the common thread of humanity is never lost. Read new prose from Meng Jin, Ryan Ruff Smith, and Joan Murray, and poetry from Matthew Lippman, Natalie Shapero, and more. The winners of our Emerging Writer’s Contest appear here, along with the announcement of our Zacharis Award winner. This issue is dedicated to William H. Berman (1936-2015), an advisory board member and Emerson College overseer.

An Ordinary Misfortune

The Winter 2015-16 issue of Ploughshares. Ploughshares is an award-winning journal of new writing. Two out of each year’s three issues are guest-edited by prominent writers who explore different personal visions, aesthetics, and literary circles, with the Winter issue staff-edited. The stories, poems, and essays that comprise this staff-edited issue of Ploughshares are diverse and timely. Visit a South African laundromat in Laurie Baker’s short story, “Here I Am, Laughing with Boers”; fly over the American midwest in George Bilgere’s poem, “Way Above Illinois”; and read about life as a border patrol agent in New Mexico in Francisco Cantú’s essay, “Bajadas.” The pieces jump from Manhattan to China to Idaho, but the common thread of humanity is never lost. Read new prose from Meng Jin, Ryan Ruff Smith, and Joan Murray, and poetry from Matthew Lippman, Natalie Shapero, and more. The winners of our Emerging Writer’s Contest appear here, along with the announcement of our Zacharis Award winner. This issue is dedicated to William H. Berman (1936-2015), an advisory board member and Emerson College overseer.

Lake Eden

The Winter 2015-16 issue of Ploughshares. Ploughshares is an award-winning journal of new writing. Two out of each year’s three issues are guest-edited by prominent writers who explore different personal visions, aesthetics, and literary circles, with the Winter issue staff-edited. The stories, poems, and essays that comprise this staff-edited issue of Ploughshares are diverse and timely. Visit a South African laundromat in Laurie Baker’s short story, “Here I Am, Laughing with Boers”; fly over the American midwest in George Bilgere’s poem, “Way Above Illinois”; and read about life as a border patrol agent in New Mexico in Francisco Cantú’s essay, “Bajadas.” The pieces jump from Manhattan to China to Idaho, but the common thread of humanity is never lost. Read new prose from Meng Jin, Ryan Ruff Smith, and Joan Murray, and poetry from Matthew Lippman, Natalie Shapero, and more. The winners of our Emerging Writer’s Contest appear here, along with the announcement of our Zacharis Award winner. This issue is dedicated to William H. Berman (1936-2015), an advisory board member and Emerson College overseer.

Blue Dye

The Winter 2015-16 issue of Ploughshares. Ploughshares is an award-winning journal of new writing. Two out of each year’s three issues are guest-edited by prominent writers who explore different personal visions, aesthetics, and literary circles, with the Winter issue staff-edited. The stories, poems, and essays that comprise this staff-edited issue of Ploughshares are diverse and timely. Visit a South African laundromat in Laurie Baker’s short story, “Here I Am, Laughing with Boers”; fly over the American midwest in George Bilgere’s poem, “Way Above Illinois”; and read about life as a border patrol agent in New Mexico in Francisco Cantú’s essay, “Bajadas.” The pieces jump from Manhattan to China to Idaho, but the common thread of humanity is never lost. Read new prose from Meng Jin, Ryan Ruff Smith, and Joan Murray, and poetry from Matthew Lippman, Natalie Shapero, and more. The winners of our Emerging Writer’s Contest appear here, along with the announcement of our Zacharis Award winner. This issue is dedicated to William H. Berman (1936-2015), an advisory board member and Emerson College overseer.

Helicopters & Gypsy Moths

The Winter 2015-16 issue of Ploughshares. Ploughshares is an award-winning journal of new writing. Two out of each year’s three issues are guest-edited by prominent writers who explore different personal visions, aesthetics, and literary circles, with the Winter issue staff-edited. The stories, poems, and essays that comprise this staff-edited issue of Ploughshares are diverse and timely. Visit a South African laundromat in Laurie Baker’s short story, “Here I Am, Laughing with Boers”; fly over the American midwest in George Bilgere’s poem, “Way Above Illinois”; and read about life as a border patrol agent in New Mexico in Francisco Cantú’s essay, “Bajadas.” The pieces jump from Manhattan to China to Idaho, but the common thread of humanity is never lost. Read new prose from Meng Jin, Ryan Ruff Smith, and Joan Murray, and poetry from Matthew Lippman, Natalie Shapero, and more. The winners of our Emerging Writer’s Contest appear here, along with the announcement of our Zacharis Award winner. This issue is dedicated to William H. Berman (1936-2015), an advisory board member and Emerson College overseer.

Wild Though the Sea

The Winter 2015-16 issue of Ploughshares. Ploughshares is an award-winning journal of new writing. Two out of each year’s three issues are guest-edited by prominent writers who explore different personal visions, aesthetics, and literary circles, with the Winter issue staff-edited. The stories, poems, and essays that comprise this staff-edited issue of Ploughshares are diverse and timely. Visit a South African laundromat in Laurie Baker’s short story, “Here I Am, Laughing with Boers”; fly over the American midwest in George Bilgere’s poem, “Way Above Illinois”; and read about life as a border patrol agent in New Mexico in Francisco Cantú’s essay, “Bajadas.” The pieces jump from Manhattan to China to Idaho, but the common thread of humanity is never lost. Read new prose from Meng Jin, Ryan Ruff Smith, and Joan Murray, and poetry from Matthew Lippman, Natalie Shapero, and more. The winners of our Emerging Writer’s Contest appear here, along with the announcement of our Zacharis Award winner. This issue is dedicated to William H. Berman (1936-2015), an advisory board member and Emerson College overseer.

Something About Ecology

The Winter 2015-16 issue of Ploughshares. Ploughshares is an award-winning journal of new writing. Two out of each year’s three issues are guest-edited by prominent writers who explore different personal visions, aesthetics, and literary circles, with the Winter issue staff-edited. The stories, poems, and essays that comprise this staff-edited issue of Ploughshares are diverse and timely. Visit a South African laundromat in Laurie Baker’s short story, “Here I Am, Laughing with Boers”; fly over the American midwest in George Bilgere’s poem, “Way Above Illinois”; and read about life as a border patrol agent in New Mexico in Francisco Cantú’s essay, “Bajadas.” The pieces jump from Manhattan to China to Idaho, but the common thread of humanity is never lost. Read new prose from Meng Jin, Ryan Ruff Smith, and Joan Murray, and poetry from Matthew Lippman, Natalie Shapero, and more. The winners of our Emerging Writer’s Contest appear here, along with the announcement of our Zacharis Award winner. This issue is dedicated to William H. Berman (1936-2015), an advisory board member and Emerson College overseer.

The Disturbance

The Winter 2015-16 issue of Ploughshares. Ploughshares is an award-winning journal of new writing. Two out of each year’s three issues are guest-edited by prominent writers who explore different personal visions, aesthetics, and literary circles, with the Winter issue staff-edited. The stories, poems, and essays that comprise this staff-edited issue of Ploughshares are diverse and timely. Visit a South African laundromat in Laurie Baker’s short story, “Here I Am, Laughing with Boers”; fly over the American midwest in George Bilgere’s poem, “Way Above Illinois”; and read about life as a border patrol agent in New Mexico in Francisco Cantú’s essay, “Bajadas.” The pieces jump from Manhattan to China to Idaho, but the common thread of humanity is never lost. Read new prose from Meng Jin, Ryan Ruff Smith, and Joan Murray, and poetry from Matthew Lippman, Natalie Shapero, and more. The winners of our Emerging Writer’s Contest appear here, along with the announcement of our Zacharis Award winner. This issue is dedicated to William H. Berman (1936-2015), an advisory board member and Emerson College overseer.

Pilot Whale

The Winter 2015-16 issue of Ploughshares. Ploughshares is an award-winning journal of new writing. Two out of each year’s three issues are guest-edited by prominent writers who explore different personal visions, aesthetics, and literary circles, with the Winter issue staff-edited. The stories, poems, and essays that comprise this staff-edited issue of Ploughshares are diverse and timely. Visit a South African laundromat in Laurie Baker’s short story, “Here I Am, Laughing with Boers”; fly over the American midwest in George Bilgere’s poem, “Way Above Illinois”; and read about life as a border patrol agent in New Mexico in Francisco Cantú’s essay, “Bajadas.” The pieces jump from Manhattan to China to Idaho, but the common thread of humanity is never lost. Read new prose from Meng Jin, Ryan Ruff Smith, and Joan Murray, and poetry from Matthew Lippman, Natalie Shapero, and more. The winners of our Emerging Writer’s Contest appear here, along with the announcement of our Zacharis Award winner. This issue is dedicated to William H. Berman (1936-2015), an advisory board member and Emerson College overseer.

Bajadas

The Winter 2015-16 issue of Ploughshares. Ploughshares is an award-winning journal of new writing. Two out of each year’s three issues are guest-edited by prominent writers who explore different personal visions, aesthetics, and literary circles, with the Winter issue staff-edited. The stories, poems, and essays that comprise this staff-edited issue of Ploughshares are diverse and timely. Visit a South African laundromat in Laurie Baker’s short story, “Here I Am, Laughing with Boers”; fly over the American midwest in George Bilgere’s poem, “Way Above Illinois”; and read about life as a border patrol agent in New Mexico in Francisco Cantú’s essay, “Bajadas.” The pieces jump from Manhattan to China to Idaho, but the common thread of humanity is never lost. Read new prose from Meng Jin, Ryan Ruff Smith, and Joan Murray, and poetry from Matthew Lippman, Natalie Shapero, and more. The winners of our Emerging Writer’s Contest appear here, along with the announcement of our Zacharis Award winner. This issue is dedicated to William H. Berman (1936-2015), an advisory board member and Emerson College overseer.

A Life in the Theater, and: What Happened After It Happened

The Winter 2015-16 issue of Ploughshares. Ploughshares is an award-winning journal of new writing. Two out of each year’s three issues are guest-edited by prominent writers who explore different personal visions, aesthetics, and literary circles, with the Winter issue staff-edited. The stories, poems, and essays that comprise this staff-edited issue of Ploughshares are diverse and timely. Visit a South African laundromat in Laurie Baker’s short story, “Here I Am, Laughing with Boers”; fly over the American midwest in George Bilgere’s poem, “Way Above Illinois”; and read about life as a border patrol agent in New Mexico in Francisco Cantú’s essay, “Bajadas.” The pieces jump from Manhattan to China to Idaho, but the common thread of humanity is never lost. Read new prose from Meng Jin, Ryan Ruff Smith, and Joan Murray, and poetry from Matthew Lippman, Natalie Shapero, and more. The winners of our Emerging Writer’s Contest appear here, along with the announcement of our Zacharis Award winner. This issue is dedicated to William H. Berman (1936-2015), an advisory board member and Emerson College overseer.

Death of the Star High-School Running Back, and: Lacrimae rerum

The Winter 2015-16 issue of Ploughshares. Ploughshares is an award-winning journal of new writing. Two out of each year’s three issues are guest-edited by prominent writers who explore different personal visions, aesthetics, and literary circles, with the Winter issue staff-edited. The stories, poems, and essays that comprise this staff-edited issue of Ploughshares are diverse and timely. Visit a South African laundromat in Laurie Baker’s short story, “Here I Am, Laughing with Boers”; fly over the American midwest in George Bilgere’s poem, “Way Above Illinois”; and read about life as a border patrol agent in New Mexico in Francisco Cantú’s essay, “Bajadas.” The pieces jump from Manhattan to China to Idaho, but the common thread of humanity is never lost. Read new prose from Meng Jin, Ryan Ruff Smith, and Joan Murray, and poetry from Matthew Lippman, Natalie Shapero, and more. The winners of our Emerging Writer’s Contest appear here, along with the announcement of our Zacharis Award winner. This issue is dedicated to William H. Berman (1936-2015), an advisory board member and Emerson College overseer.

Editor’s Letter

1. Brian R. Bruce 1. Editor-in-Chief We open the Winter issue with an article by Mozes and Steffens, presenting a model for predicting whether value stocks will outperform growth stocks and whether value stocks’ outperformance will be positively or negatively correlated with equity markets