Vol. 12 (2024)

The 2024 print issue plays with concepts of collaboration. For the first time in Tab Journal’s twelve years, the Creative Director has paired with another designer, Jessica Oddi, to create the visual language of this print issue. The bold visual backgrounds demonstrate a painterly process of two artists in the same space mark-making on one canvas together.  

These visual elements become front and back partners of each poster–sheet–page. The conversations between this design and the poems themselves (text and voice) amplify the definition that this printed issue is at once a singular object and two interdependent parts, like a door hinge or a pair of pliers. One component cannot operate without the other. Pairs are categorized as twos or duos of parts, people, or ideas, but pairing carries the complexity of layers. The pairing of wine and cheese embodies two objects with their own distinct processes, standards for quality, time for aging, textures, and experience of taste. In medicine, theragnostic refers to the pairing of diagnostic biomarkers with therapeutic agents to provide treatment matched to an individual. In a kinematic pair, each of two physical objects imposes constraints on the movement of the other. Pairing risks the mismatch, invites the unintended connection, and suggests what is left out by quantitive limits. The goal for this issue is partnership, conversation, and celebration of the depth and complications of useful pairings.


Paul Brooke: Grotto of Neutrinos

Grotto of Neutrinos by Paul Brooke
Grotto of Neutrinos Morse Code by Paul Brooke

Yan An, translated by Chen Du and Xisheng Chen: Tenebrosity

Tenebrosity by Yan An Yan An translated by Chen Du and Xisheng Chen

Julia Kolchinsky Dasbach: I always want to leave you at night 

I always want to leave you at night by Julia Dasbach

Xander Gershberg: Registry [Train to Krakow], Registry [Willi Tannenbaum] and Registry [Travels] 

Registry [Train to Krakow] by Xander Gershberg
Registry [Willi Tannenbaum] by Xander Gershberg
Registry [Travels] by Xander Gershberg

Anton Lushankin: Innuendo

Innuendo by Anton Lushankin

Katie Manning: Dear Shadow    

Dear Shadow by Katie Manning

Adesiyan Oluwapelumi: Fractals

Fractals by Adesiyan Oluwapelumi

T.W. Sia: You will never lose family

You will never lose family by T.W. Sia

Yan An, translated by Chen Du and Xisheng Chen: Situations of a Bird and Two People

Situations of a Bird and Two People by Yan An Yan, translated by Chen Du and Xisheng Chen

Denise Duhamel: Poem in Which I Contemplate Loneliness Through a Peephole and Poem in Which I Contemplate Imposter Syndrome

Poem in Which I Contemplate Loneliness Through a Peephole by Denise Duhamel
Poem in Which I Contemplate Imposter Syndrome by Denise Duhamel

Reuben Gelley Newman: [Two toads devolved in a cello brood] and [Two nodes divulged in a mellow mood]

[Two toads devolved in a cello brood] by Gelley Newman
[Two nodes divulged in a mellow mood] by Gelley Newman

Cyn Kitchen: When Leaving, Again

When Leaving, Again by Cyn Kitchen

Jerry Lieblich: in and of, how, not what, and for wind today a wind

in and of by Jerry Lieblich
how, not what by Jerry Lieblich
for wind today a wind by Jerry Lieblich

Raymond Luczak: My Ghost Boy and First A-S-L Sign Me-Learn What | My First ASL Sign

My Ghost Boy by Raymond Luczak
First A-S-L Sign Me-Learn What | My First ASL Sign by Raymond Luczak

Sandra Marchetti: Friday, 1:20

Friday, 1:20 by Sandra Marchetti

Andrew Mauzey: The Moon Enjoys a Performance

The Moon Enjoys a Performance by Andrew Mauzey

Kimberly Ann Priest: in memorium

in memorium by Kimberly Ann Priest

Susan Rich: Heartscape/Cityscape

Heartscape/Cityscape by Susan Rich

T. W. Sia: In the clearest sketches after memory

In the clearest sketches after memory by T.W. Sia

Emily Velasquez: Book Review of “Promises of Gold / Promesas de Oro” by Jose Olivarez


Special Issue: California Coastal Commission Poetry Contest

Every year, Tabula Poetica selects finalists for the Coastal Poetry Contest for K-12 students hosted by the California Coastal Commission. This year, Chapman University students in Tab Journal Editor Anna Leahy’s MFA poetry writing class served as the mid-level judges. Tab Journal is thrilled to share the poems of young Californians as part of this collaboration with the community and Annie Frankel, the Public Education Program of the California Coastal Commission. You can also view the winning art and poetry selections at the California Coastal Commission’s website.

Kindergarten–1st Grade

Lorenzo Ripoll: Leopard Shark

Leopard Shark by Lorenzo Ripoll

Alexandra Chapman: Monterey Bay

Monterey Bay by Alexandra Chapman

Elliot Cheng: Crab

Crab by Elliot Cheng

Neya Seelan: Paradise

Paradise by Neya Seelan

2nd–3rd Grade

Ivan DeVries: Friends by the Bay

Friends by the Bay by Ivan DeVries

Dylan Bingham: The Shores and Tide Pools of Hazards

The Shores and Tide Pools of Hazards by Dylan Bingham

Olivia Fike: Water Blue Flows

Water Blue Flows by Olivia Fike

Amorette Filemu: Ocean Waves

Ocean Waves by Amorette Filemu

Julian Zatt: Boogie Boarding

Boogie Boarding by Julian Zatt

4th–6th Grade

Nya Wang-Jethi: Anthozoa

Anthozoa by Nya Wang-Jethi

Adelyn Haskins: Kelp

Kelp by Adelyn Haskins

Manting Liu: World Beneath the Waves

World Beneath the Waves by Manting Liu

Siona Pedrocchi: Whale Song

Whale Song by Siona Pedrocchi

Poppy Sargent: Skies of the Bay

Skies of the Bay by Poppy Sargent

7th–9th Grade

Radhika Shah: lines in the sand

lines in the sand by Radhika Shah

James Corman: The Great Blue Heron

The Great Blue Heron by James Corman

Emma Quintero: i wish in saltwater billows and gritty gold

i wish in saltwater billows and gritty gold by Emma Quintero

Six Silva: There Aren’t No Borders Here

There Aren’t No Borders Here by Six Silva

Garrett Wong: Ode to the Sea

Ode to the Sea by Garrett Wong

10th–12th Grade

Emilie Vu-Nguyen: Two Heartbeats

Two Heartbeats by Emilie Vu-Nguyen

Bianca Robak: Far and Below

Far and Below by Bianca Robak

Claire Scanlan: Orchestra of Chaos

Orchestra of Chaos by Claire Scanlan

Krystal Taylor: The Beauty in the Beach

The Beauty in the Beach by Krystal Taylor

Mattea Zurielle D. Menjares: Currents

Currents by Mattea Zurielle D. Menjares