Issue 535 | The Sun Magazine

July 2020

Readers Write

Boyfriends & Girlfriends

Falling for a firefighter, staying single, trusting someone with your cat

By Our Readers
One Nation, Indivisible

July 2020

Featuring Michael Pollan, Craig Childs, John Elder, and more.

The Dog-Eared Page

Digging Up The Roots

In this desecrated area, the women searching for firewood must dig up the roots of the trees they have long since cut down to make space for crops.

By Jane Goodall
Quotations

Sunbeams

To love another human in all of her splendor and imperfect perfection, it is a magnificent task . . . tremendous and foolish and human.

Louise Erdrich, The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse

The Sun Interview

Not So Different After All

Frans de Waal On Animal Intelligence And Emotions

With the coronavirus we have another interesting issue: how we eat wildlife. Ecologists and conservationists have been saying for fifty years that we shouldn’t be eating everything on the planet.

By Mark Leviton
Essays, Memoirs, & True Stories

Sex After Death

I’d thought dating would make me feel less grief, but it was the opposite. I decided to delete my Match.com account and learn to masturbate. I had enough sadness in my own life.

By Beth Alvarado
Essays, Memoirs, & True Stories

Out Of The Ordinary

I hand my wife the bag, and she finds the two packs of wet wipes. It is the happiest I’ve made her in weeks.

By Kristopher Jansma
Essays, Memoirs, & True Stories

Seaside

When James is high, he is at his most affectionate. He becomes generous with hugs. He kisses my face all over, eyelids and all. I am ashamed that I like this about his addiction.

By Janelle Greco
Fiction

Firebirds

After barre, Mme. Francesca follows me to the locker room and tells me I’m officially going to the Cupids dance program this summer and I just can’t stand it.

By Alysandra Dutton
Poetry

The Hairdresser

sees the old woman — wheelchair bound, pushed by her daughter — glance / out the window, and goes in back / to fetch a shower cap. The woman tugs her daughter’s shirt and says, almost / inaudibly, It’s raining. / And it is raining. Barely.

By Benjamin S. Grossberg
Poetry

Crazy Bitch

God, it feels good to be a crazy bitch. / To stand straddle-legged in a slip dress and stilettos / lashing out recriminations, nonsensical accusations / that leave his mouth agape. To stop being understanding, / reasonable. To rage with the heat of a thousand tigers in your heart.

By SeSe Geddes
Poetry

Already True

A Selection Of Poetry For These Times

By Amy Dryansky , Kurt Luchs , Alison Luterman , Jim Moore & Cary Tennis