by Susan L. Lin
The Human Animal vows never to eat
an octopus or a squid. What she really means
is she will never ever eat another one again.
They are her favorite nonhuman animals.
She loves the way they squeeze their boneless bodies
into the tightest spaces like contortionists
or magician’s assistants, completing the ultimate
disappearing act. She loves the way they mimic
their environments and change colors more fluidly
than the mood ring on her index finger.
But she also loves the way their chewy bodies
feel in her mouth after they’ve been dipped in batter
and fried, transformed into takoyaki or tempura,
dried and sealed in plastic pouches like stringy jerky.
Next time she visits the Asian grocery store,
she stares longingly at a cartoon cephalopod
with impossibly large eyes. A few moments later,
she puts the package back on the shelf.
Susan L. Lin
Susan L. Lin is a Taiwanese American storyteller who hails from southeast Texas and holds an MFA in Writing from California College of the Arts. Her novella GOODBYE TO THE OCEAN won the 2022 Etchings Press novella prize, and her literary/visual art has appeared in nearly a hundred publications. She loves to dance. Find more at https://susanllin.com.
Roger Camp
Roger Camp is the author of three photography books including the award winning Butterflies in Flight (Thames & Hudson, 2002). His documentary photography has been awarded the prestigious Leica Medal of Excellence. His work has appeared in numerous journals including The New England Review, American Chordata and the New York Quarterly. He is represented by the Robin Rice Gallery, NY.