Cover photo by Dattatreya Paul*Where I live, two different types
of ferns look in at me. One of them is a pine tree. The pine cones hang
alluringly. For it is nature’s quaint mystic policy that though a pine tree has
both male and female cones, cross-pollination is the norm. Or is it the pine
tree’s rebellion against what nature first thought was advisable? Living the
norm is a matter of habit. Healing from the scars of the norm is a process of
choice.
Being a social animal, human beings
often get defined by the community they are in and the company they keep. The
social mores and codes of conduct seep into their existence. In this amalgam,
there emerges a peculiar thing that differentiates one from the other. It is
the individuated experience and perception that creates difference of
expressions. This is born out of a discomfort. It maybe the discomfort of
ill-fitted shoes, of square souls in round pegs of normalcy. Or it might be the
other way around. It may be an eerie knowledge of an opinion that questions the
normalcy of norms of difference too. Our vision is to harness this discomfort
that writers, artists, and other creative individuals feel.
We have showcased 23 creative writers/artists in the inaugural issue of The Pine Cone Review, who perceive brownness and being brown in their own ways. My heartfelt gratitude is extended to the contributors, without whom this issue would not be possible. I hope readers will find this issue intriguing.
Best wishes and regards to all on behalf of
Susmita Paul
Editor-in-Chief
Poetry & Art Editor
The Pine Cone Review
Table of Contents
*Dattatreya Paul is a young artist who loves all things related to outer space, vehicles and colours. He is a kindergartener who wants to have two jobs when he grows up: an architect and a tram driver.