ISSUE SEVEN: BRIDGES
In 1945, Nobel Prize winner Ivo Andric published a novel entitled The Bridge Over the Drina. There is no hero in this book. And no heroine either. The protagonist is arguably a bridge. The novel follows the lives of those that fixated on it, despised it, constructed it and attempted to destroy it. It is a story all about connection. It is a perfect example of how a bridge is so much more than simply a concrete structure: sparking discord as well as encouraging harmony.
Defined as something that can reconcile or unite different groups, events, periods etc as well as a structure forming a path over a body of water, roadway or valley, the term ‘bridges’ has inspired an incredible body of work from our contributors that is ultimately all about connection.
This eclectic mix of short stories, dramatic monologues, articles and poems cover an engaging range of subjects, from laundry to the conflict in Ukraine. There is so much to unpick. We hope this issue fascinates you as much as it has for us editors.
Happy Reading!
From the Lighthouse Team
Letters from the Editors
Natasha Ketel, Editor-in-Chief
As a current Graduand awaiting the congregation with a huge weight of uncertainty floating over the next few months (and the future more generally), the theme of ‘Bridges’ has felt particularly apt. Ending the part of my life as a student and entering what I guess you can only describe as ‘the real world’ does feel like walking over a bridge.
Reading over the pieces in this issue, many of our wonderful contributors have captured the notion of hesitancy and confusion that comes hand-in-hand with reconciling change and I have found such solace in their work.
Notably, Anna Johns’ 'The Night Before’ is a vivid, beautiful depiction of insecurity. Ava Piper’s ‘Avoiding Mirrors’ explores what it means to acknowledge your sense of self shifting with such pertinency. Plus, Jay Figueredo’s ‘Four Different Love Stories’ focuses on the struggle of accepting that things inevitably change with heartbreakingly subtle prose.
But, these are only 3 examples of short stories in the issue. There is so much more to explore. I hope you cherish all of the articles, poems, stories and dramatic pieces as much as I have! It has been such a fantastic issue to end the year on and I am so proud of what the team has achieved.
Sarah Henderson, Deputy Editor
Around this time last year, I was asked by our former editor in chief if I had a vision for where the magazine could go next. I believed that we could finally establish ourselves as a current and exciting print magazine. One year later, this pipe dream has become a reality.
This is a very bittersweet moment for me. Being part of this magazine for the last two years has been such a privilege, so naturally I’m sad about moving on from this beautiful publication. However, this is coupled with excitement and hope for the future of From The Lighthouse, as it offers our editors and contributors the ability to hold the product of their hard work in their hands.
To sign off my final editor’s letter - Tash and Anjali, my wonderful senior editors. Your talent and friendship inspires me constantly and I shall carry it with me always. To our editors, your hard work and artistic vision makes this magazine the living, breathing work of art that it is. To our contributors, may this moment, seeing your work in print, launch you towards further publication and inspiration. To our readers, please treasure this first print issue as moment of progression, as a bridge to future endeavours for this magazine. We hope you love it as much as we do.
Anjali Mulcock, Deputy Editor
When thinking of bridges, the first thing that came to my mind was a poem I studied in first year, Composed Upon Westminster Bridge. Whilst I couldn’t claim to be an ardent Wordsworth fan, I do think this sonnet powerfully captures the kind of still reflection bridges provoke. Durham’s many bridges are beautiful, and, especially now in summer, I often find myself pausing on one, enjoying a moment of anchored stillness above the river’s ceaseless rush. Issues of From the Lighthouse also act as such vantage points for me: poised collections of work that overlook the rush of the academic year, that highlight the meaningfulness of the quotidian, and that provide opportunities for thought and response. This issue is no different, containing fiction of exquisite tenderness and hope, and nonfiction of particular acuity and truthfulness in the fullest sense of the word. The image of a bridge is an image of extension, of reaching from one bank to another, of separation yet connection. These writings are bridges in themselves, offering themselves out for the reader to journey across. I hope your souls pass along and are touched as much as mine (and, once upon a time, Wordworth’s!) was. I am continually left in awe of the talent that resides among us. I am so proud of our contributors and our editors, and I would like to thank Tash and Sarah with all my heart for their dedication and drive, and for having made working on this magazine the wonderfully joyful experience it has been.
Issue 7: Sections
Letters from the Section Editors
Will Triggs, Poetry Editor
It’s hard to believe that we've reached the end of the university year, and with it the year's final edition of From the Lighthouse. It's been a huge joy to be a part of this magazine, both in getting to read so many inspiring and insightful poems, and in working with such a great editorial team - particular thanks have to go to my co-editor Caroline, and to our tireless editor-in-chief Natasha!
As many of us, including myself, come to our final few weeks in Durham, the theme of 'bridges' felt particularly fitting - with the beautiful assortment of bridges adding so much to the city's identity, it was touching to see this reflected in poetry, as Sarah Henderson does brilliantly in 'Prebends Bridge'. At the same time, we also received great contributions that took a more metaphorical approach to the theme; Alice Kemp and Aoifke Madeleine, for instance, both write powerfully on the bridges that might lie between death and renewal, endings and new beginnings. Wherever your next bridge leads, I hope that you enjoy this year's final edition of From the Lighthouse.
Caroline Rijkse, Poetry Editor
Our final issue of the academic year, and what a brilliant issue it’s been!
The theme of ‘bridges’ brought an exceptionally imaginative range of responses. It seemed a fitting theme as we move between years at university (or beyond); summer is often a time where we enjoy the bonds we form with loved ones, and, with more time to reflect, to consider how we bridge the gaps between who we are now and who we want to become. Progress, reconciliation, introspection - all these feature heavily in this issue.
As Durham students, bridges are visually influential presences in our day-to-day lives, and it comes through wonderfully in poetry. Sarah Henderson’s ‘Prebends Bridge’, for example, finds solace from ‘the currents of the hour’ in a local setting. I was also thrilled by the thoughtful use of the theme in more remote directions. From Mia Hyde’s stunning development of the conceptual landscape of T.S. Eliot’s ‘Burnt Norton’ to the touching verse style in Anna Johns’ ‘My room is not even that messy I’m just really behind on laundry’, I really believe there is something in this collection for everyone.
As the magazine branches out into print for the first time, it’s felt really special to be part of the FTL team. I hope you enjoy this collection as much as I did.
Emily Hare, Fiction Editor
Over the past few years the word ‘bridge’ has taken on a new significance. During lockdowns we bridged the gap between isolated people, now we work on rebuilding bridges that might have fallen into disrepair over those difficult times. This has made working on the current issue and exploring so many different interpretations and perceptions of bridges very special. Our fiction section in this issue is filled with profound and heartfelt pieces. I was blown away by the emotion packed into these short stories, it is truly impressive to incite such a response in a reader when restricted to only one page! As always, it has been a delight to work with the team of From the Lighthouse and a joy to engage with our wonderful contributors.
Izel Ilkten-Salman, Fiction Editor
Bridges has been a fantastic theme for the last issue of the term!
We have had amazing entries for fiction, all so incredible that I was glued to my laptop reading them – ‘bridges’ was interpreted so uniquely and we received some of the best works I’ve read this year. From heart-wrenching to hilarious, I’m so lucky to have read so many masterpieces this year.
Martha Kean, Non-Fiction Editor
This issue of From the Lighthouse marks my last as Nonfiction editor and I am delighted that it so well represents the strength and potential of the Nonfiction section of the magazine! We are very lucky to have more pieces in this issue than in the previous two, and the breadth of topics covered by our contributors is so exciting. There is truly something for everyone — from Alice Kemp’s astute piece on the strengths and weaknesses of Carol Ann Duffy’s Sincerity, Rimma Snesar-Sanchez’ article on Post-Soviet Space and Elise Garçon’s insightful review of My Year of Rest and Relaxation to Abbi Cragg’s creative and experimental musings on our theme of ‘Bridges’ and Michelle Leung’s more personally charged reflection on building Bridges through relationships — and, specifically, across grief. These articles truly showcase the versatility and possibility of nonfiction writing and I cannot recommend enough that you sit down with a cuppa and delve into them!
As the year — and my time at Durham — draws to a close, leaving behind From the Lighthouse feels bittersweet. I am sad to leave the editorial team and will miss working on this really wonderful publication. However, I am proud of what I have been able to help achieve over the past two years and I am so very excited to see where From the Lighthouse goes next!
Nicole Howlett, Non-Fiction Editor
I have loved being a part of this edition of From the Lighthouse. In my opinion, the idea of ‘Bridges’ really drew together the aesthetic and the literary/intellectual, as bridges can represent so many different concepts such as travelling from one stage of life onto the next, or the connection between different people or groups of people. I loved co-writing the content call with Martha, as it brought into my mind the different ways human constructions such as ‘bridges’ can be used to shape an understanding of literature and life in general.
I really enjoyed reading and editing our submissions for this edition. Our contributors used the idea of ‘bridges’ in different ways, demonstrating how the concept of bridges evokes different literary and cultural ideas in different individuals. One contributor explored how physical bridges can be used as a metaphor for the bridges between countries, particularly in politically fraught times. Another contributor used bridges to explore the connection between the human and the natural, which reflects how bridges can occur organically in nature, but have also been adapted and expanded hugely by humankind. They also explored how writing, and in particular critical non-fiction writing, can be seen as a bridge from one idea to another, something which impacted how I read their work as an editor. This reminded me how much there is to learn from other people’s work, which is one of the key reasons I wished to get involved with the magazine this year.
As my last time editing the magazine, I am proud of the increase in my confidence in my own critical ideas. It has been wonderful to hear from the other editors about their own submissions and creative processes, which really demonstrates how collaborative the magazine is, again showing how our theme of ‘bridges’ links to the connections between creative people. I hope you all enjoy reading this edition and consider contributing next year, even if you haven’t before!
Ben Willows, Drama Editor
It's been a pleasure to be the drama editor over the past few years. While always a small section, we've seen plays and monologues that move, humour, and delight. It has been a privilege to be part of the From the Lighthouse renaissance, and I can’t wait to see how it will grow even stronger in the years after I graduate. Keep writing theatre, and keep magazines like this one going.
Nancy Meakin, Drama Editor
I have really enjoyed this issue’s theme as we a come to the close of another year which feels like it’s lead us to more of the normality that we now all fully appreciate. Alice Kemp has been a wondrous addition to the drama section this year and this issue is no different. Seeing writing transition and evolve is what this issue is all about and it has been wonderful to be a part of this bridging process.