Em Townsend reads “Midwestern Reunion” from Shō No. 5.
“”Midwestern Reunion” is about returning to my college after a semester of leave, and grounding myself in the somber beauty of late-winter rural Ohio. In transitional periods of life, I’m often turning towards intentional observance, to find those moments of gratitude and growth.”
— Em Townsend
Em Townsend (they/she) is a queer writer, student, and the author of growing forwards / growing backwards (Bottlecap Press, 2023). Their work is published in Chestnut Review, Shō Poetry Journal, West Trade Review, Frozen Sea, Unbroken Journal, Rough Cut Press, and elsewhere. Read more at their website.