Gary Grossman, Professor Emeritus of Animal Ecology, University of Georgia, has poems and essays in 70+ literary reviews. He doesn't enter contests but his work has been nominated for the usual awards (Pushcart, Best of Net, etc.) - no wins yet, so meh, right?  His poetry books Lyrical Years (2023, Kelsay), What I Meant to Say Was… (2023, Impspired) and Objects in Mirror May Be Closer Than They Appear (2025, Arroyo Seco), and graphic memoir My Life in Fish—One Scientist’s Journey…(2023, Impspired) all are available from the author or Amazon. Author website: https://www.garygrossman.net

About this piece: cararra statuario marble on steatite.

Editorial note: also in this issue (and by the same artist!): the excellent poem My brother’s pet.