"magic in a human world" by Elsa Burgos

1- When I see you up close 

I feel a lightheartedness 

My heart softens

as if i’m holding something so fragile 

but that gives me so much strength,

 so much light 

as if you are the universe’s way of showing me how much I can give

How much magic is reachable

 in a human world

 how love can save us from it all 

when I hold you in my arms I wish my hands could keep you always safe 

when I kiss you slowly and your lips tremble that’s my favorite

Peace is you

Peace is me and you

I kiss an angel how lucky am i? 

2- Love will make us

Is not something you take

Is something that arrives

When it wants and it leaves when it wants

It makes us

It changes us

Shapes us

And i love you with such a violent light.

Follow Elsa on Instagram to see more of her work.

"ODE TO CARMEN" by Saffron Maeve

Carmen
My friend
Where are you?
The universe is swallowing me up
And I don’t know who to be
I am translucent and frightened 
Not like you
Not like a hazy dream
With pink hues and echoing laughter 
But like a ghost
I am surface on most days 
And on others
I am too much
I write not to burden you with the task of handling me
But I can’t help feeling
That you understand this life
That you too feel both too much and not enough
That the world is just big
So big that your whimpers echo throughout the buzz of a busy city
If a tree falls in the forest, but no one is there to hear it
Did it fall?
Did you fall?
Carmen 
My friend
I am worried
This life is not an easy one
But you always made it look so simple
There is nothing mundane about you
I suppose that’s why I cared so much
The other day
I saw a mannequin in a store 
Statuesque and wearing a long red dress
Carmen 
I thought of you
How you would not hesitate
We stroll through Bowery at night
I look over at you
A world away
And yet
There you are
You hear music
I hear it too, just not in the same way
Where I hear a song
Played much too often 
Bouncing its way from car to car 
Until the buzz of the busy city becomes a wail
You hear an invitation 
So you run to its source
I say we should take the stairs
You smile
Looking up at the fire escape
Carmen 
You’re fearless
We sit on a window ledge
Looking out at our world
You say something about the twinkling stars
All I see is smog
In one hand
You hold a glass of wine
In the other 
A tatty cigarette
You don’t care that you’re overdressed
And that we don’t know anyone here
You exist
And that’s enough for you
Carmen 
It’s been years
Where are you?
Who are you?
Do you resent your desk job?
Are you on Broadway?
Do you still love your mom?
I hope that time has treated you well 
That you’re not as scared as I am
But then again
You never were
How I longed to be you
To possess the presence of a socialite
With forty dollars to her name
To never have to wonder
“What if”
A cluster of feather boas
And obscure film references 
The life of every party
Carmen 
My love, if there ever was such a thing
I miss you
Can you still see the stars through the smog?

“Monterey, CA” by Fulton Pace

“Monterey, CA” was written when I saw a beautiful girl on a beach while traveling north from Los Angeles to Eureka, CA when I stopped in Monterey to take in the scenery and I saw a young woman that I fell in love with at first sight and never saw again.

Follow Fulton on Instagram to see more of his work.

"The Released Still" by Fulton Pace

“The Released Still” is about giving up my ego to the momentary environment and the fear of ego death that comes with it. Explaining the title would cheapen my art. I fear that if I give up my will and my ego that I might cease to exist, but in the last stanza I offer the idea that maybe that is the requirement of enlightenment—the risk one must take.

Follow Fulton on Instagram to see more of his work.

"You Just Know When The Time Is Right" : An Interview with Karen Davis

In our interview with 20 year old artist Karen Davis, we discuss the beginnings of her journey with photography as well as how her creative process has grown and evolved. The interview is accompanied by a number of Karen's photos, taken mostly on 35mm film, and a few of her poems. Her very ethereal and femme photos are simply breathtaking, and we hope you will take a few minutes out of your day to check them out and to read on below for a closer look into her work.

To see more of Karen’s work, follow her on Instagram.

DISSOLVING FILM: When did you pick up your first camera? Did you always know you wanted to be a photographer?

KAREN DAVIS: I would say, I have always taken film photos since I was a young child. But the first time I actually planned and did a photo shoot I immediately fell in love with photography and each detail that goes into taking photos. But I was 5 or 6! I also got very inspired by this short film called "Blow Up My Town."

What or who do you find yourself drawing inspiration from? Has this changed as you have evolved as a person + artist/writer?

I draw most of my inspo from movies definitely! Stanley Kubrick, Alfred Hitchcock, so many directors inspire me. And art wise Gillian Wearing, Nan Goldin, Martin Parr, and so many more inspire my work.

Your work has a very ethereal, intimate quality to it. How do you decide to document these moments?

Most of the time I will get inspired and just do a shoot, most of the time my shots are planned but I have a lot of personal photographs from special moments in my life that I admire just as much as my planned photos, you just know when the time is right!

What do you think your favorite photo you have ever taken is?

I have this photograph, it's for my book, it's my friend Lucy and she is posing with a horse and I think it is probably one of the most unique and beautiful photographs I have ever captured.

Could you tell us more about the photos you submitted?

Each photo I have submitted, even if it was a part of the same shoot, I feel tells its own story to the person who is looking.

I try not to describe too much detail until someone speaks about it.

Can you elaborate on what goes through your mind when trying to write poetry? How do you choose what photo(s) to pair with the certain poem?

Usually, like other writers, I get very inspired when I am going through a lot. Usually I find old family photos with my poetry cause I think it gives it something to look deeper into and what each poem will mean to someone else.

When I read others' poetry I like to imagine how I would feel or how this person would feel or be like so that's why I pair photographs with my poetry.

Interview by Zoë Bridgwater and Zoey Martinez

"Fragments From a Past Life" by Sydney McRae

I wrote these poems last summer after finishing my first year of college, amidst a time in my life when I was trying to make sense of all that had been and all that was going to be -- a time of deep self-reflection and reinvention.

I found that I was able to turn powerful moments and feelings into poetry so that I and others could understand my innermost thoughts. I use poetry as a way to better understand myself, my feelings, and the world around me; and it helps me to document how I felt during certain time periods of my life. This is a collection that is a testament to my personal growth and realizations I had when returning home after a very difficult and strange year.

These words helped me find my way, discover who I am, and find beauty among chaos and heartbreak. I want to share these poems so that maybe they can help others on their way too.

Follow Sydney on Instagram to see more of her work.

"i can feel your pulse in the pages" by Elsa Burgos

follow Elsa on Instagram @lisztomaniaclub to see more of her work

"Your Name" by Jessica Fernandes

My name is Jessica Fernandes and I'm from Montreal, Canada. From a very young age, my love for rhymes and poetry first began when I was introduced to Dr. Seuss' collection.  Over the years, I've been writing about things that occur and any thoughts I have lingering in my mind. Although I think the topics I choose to write about are very mature, I realized that I still have a lot of growing up to do. When I write, there is not only a creative process behind it, but also a learning process in which I get a chance to learn a little bit more about myself and where my feelings are at the moment.

I've decided to submit a poem I wrote a couple of years ago. While I was writing it, I thought I knew how I felt, but it only makes more sense now that I've moved on.

Your Name 

When you first told me your name

I labelled no other with this name

But when you became responsible for my heartbreak

I no longer felt the same way

You ruined your name’s reputation

And so I pledge in your name to never open up to someone new with your name

Because it’s your name.

And it has its own definition in my heart.

"Blessed be the mystery of love" by Elsa Burgos

follow Elsa on Instagram @lisztomaniaclub to see more of her work

"a memory from high school" by Sara

I wrote this poem based on "feelings revolving around crushes."

a memory from high school

but throughout the night, a lightning storm has taken place
and took me from the comfort of my own room,
safety inside with thoughts of you, under soft covers keeping me in place,
heat rushing red to my cheeks, blood-tinted masking tan skin.

you, rose out of the sea, waves upon waves,
the deep blue in your eyes,
turbulence when lightning hit your waters, 
but not as it hit my roof and changed my mind,
spark plugged the car, fireworks on the Fourth of July still haunt me.

we never will be, 
we never were, 
but nostalgic ghosts still walk among the living,

and i hear them and think of you.

"isolation & infinity” by Zelda Solomon

Photos from my time spent in Mageli Gard, an organic farm in rural Norway.

follow Zelda on Instagram @junebsphoto to see more of her photography