‘Athazagoraphobia’ Published at Farside Review!
I am delighted to share my prose piece, Athazagoraphobia, is published at Farside Review in the magazine’s newly released third issue. Even though I wrote this piece last year, it is my first publication of 2023 and, upon rereading the piece, love how fitting a piece it feels upon which to enter the new year.
About Farside Review
Established in 2020, Farside Review is an online literary magazine that seeks to uncover the infinitely faceted nature of our art, our love, and our tragedies. Farside Review is passionate about the “inertia of memories that smear into your futurity, your crumpled edges of identity, your old stories threaded into new skins.” The journal wants to see our faces: “the ones you wear, the ones you hide, the ones you hold onto instead of wiping away.”
If you have such a story to tell, head over to Farside Review and explore the magazine in its literary entirety!
What is Athazagoraphobia?
Athazagoraphobia is a fear of forgetting someone or something, as well as a fear of being forgotten.
I first came across it in a book I read early last year. I cannot currently recall the name of the book, but it was a lyrical read about a young Chinese American woman and her immigrant mother. The pair came from a long line of calligraphy shop owners, but this young woman wanted to open a restaurant. Although she eventually pursues her dream, it shatters her relationship with her mother, who has long lived with athazagoraphobia.
I found the concept of athazagoraphobia fascinating and, after finishing the book, was inspired to write this piece. The writing and the title felt perfect together, and it brings me great joy to know this prose piece has found a home at Farside Review.
The following is a short excerpt of my prose poem Athazagoraphobia, published at Farside Review.
When I weep, I weep quartz crystals. You have collected them since before I was born in a turquoise-studded bowl of your ancestor’s making, where she smoldered incense and the smoke carried her prayers to the afterlife.
Eight may be a lucky number, but an hour of tears yields eighty and I have never counted them, but you swear you have and how can you not have filled the bowl by now? as I weep, and darkness closes in?
Please continue reading here and do share your beautiful thoughts!
Photo by Ahmed Rizkhaan
barbaraleaver
Congratulations!
Karima Hoisan
Congratulations Layla on being published in Farside Review. This prose piece is so rich in imagery and a very creative subject. I enjoyed it immensely! 🌹
Layla Todd
Thank you deeply, Karima!
Keep Calm & Drink Coffee
Many MANY heartfelt congratulations for the umpteenth publication and the umpteenth time your Words are spread!
Tricia Sankey
Enjoyed the read, Congrats! 👏👏
Cassa Bassa
Amazing write Layla, this piece hits all the senses
Aspen Hite
Fantastic…that’s a great piece! Congratulations!
Bridgette
Congratulations! Beautiful words.
Literary Revelations Publishing House
Very beautiful. I love it!
wendy waters
Gorgeous imagery!
haoyando
What a beautiful post. Athazagoraphobia sounds like something I have. Being forgotten. So true. That’s something we are afraid of. The disconnection.
Layla Todd
Love this reflective comment! Thank you so much.
M Jay Dixit
Hearty congrats, Layla! Gorgeously rendered.
Michele Lee
Layla, this is exquisite! I applaud the mission of Farside Review and I am absolutely enchanted by your prose piece. Fascinating subject matter and creative imagery. 👏🏻
Layla Todd
Thank you, Michele! I so love rereading this piece in particular as it has a good ring to it. ❤️
Michele Lee
It absolutely does! 💖
Jeff Flesch
A gorgeous piece, Layla. I love how you’ve taken feelings and affixed them to objects of meaning, displaying the connectivity of self, and “other”. Congratulations! ❤️
D. Wallace Peach
That was stunning, Layla. I’m almost speechless. Your prose is poetic and the imagery in this is exquisite. I think I held my breath through the whole read. A lovely introduction too to the inspiration of you piece. Congrats on the publication.
Layla Todd
Wow, what a stunning reading experience, Diana! Thank you so much for sharing it with me.
D. Wallace Peach
I’d like to reblog this (probably in February) on my Weekend Blog Share. You don’t have a reblog button so just wanted to check if that’s okay. 😀
Layla Todd
😍 I’d love for you to share this piece, Diana! I appreciate you checking with me and will also look to see if my theme supports a reblog . . .
D. Wallace Peach
Yay! Early February is the plan. I have it on my calendar for the 4th, but somethings I get yanked off schedule. I can’t wait to share it.
Layla Todd
Woohoo! Looking forward to February.
Ingrid
Congratulations Layla! Beautifully written 😊
Eugenia
A hearty congratulations, Layla!
Baydreamer - Lauren Scott
Beautifully written, Layla, and Congratulations!
Layla Todd
Thank you, Lauren!
Baydreamer - Lauren Scott
You’re very welcome, Layla!
Ka
Congratulations! It’s no wonder you were inspired by such a word. I love this already and am going to go right over to read more! 💗 Blessings to you on your publishing in 2023! You are off to a great start 😃
Layla Todd
Thank you for these lovely words, Ka!
Cindy Georgakas
wow this is so beautiful in imagery and words Layla! Congratulations!! 💗
Layla Todd
Thank you so much, Cindy!
Cindy Georgakas
You’re so welcome Layla!!!! 💞
Jacqui Murray
I love that word, Layla. It is a potent fear, especially as we-all get older. Your poem captures it beautifully.
Layla Todd
Thank you for sharing this thought, Jacqui!
According to Chren
This is amazing news! Congrats!
Grace
Huge congratulations, friend!!! So happy for you!!! Glad your writing is being shared with the world 🤍🤗
Layla Todd
Thank you so much, Grace!
I'm All Booked Up YA
Congratulations! That’s a huge accomplishment.
michnavs
Congratulations🌹