Volume 1993 Parnassus

From the Editor:

Parnassus would like to give special thanks to the judges who spent their time and mental energy in choosing the best of this year’s selected entries. The judges themselves were chosen because of the staff’s general feelings of trust in the opinions and tastes of each, and we were not disappointed.

Special thanks should also go out to Cathryn Zahn who spent much time and effort in bringing to life my concept for a cover and artistic design.

About the cover:

The Plant is symbolic of the growth of life. Although it comes together and is viewed as a unified being, it is composed of many different branches, many different decisions; all separate but dependent upon and stemming from the others. This pattern is potentially eternal, and in truth, is no pattern at all. The highest branch could not exist in its place without the proper placement of every single branch below it and, in turn every branch below every branch until you find yourself at the bed of your conception—still wondering how you got to where you are today.

I watched a potter at the wheel and marveled at her control. I asked, “Do you know where you are going?”

“No, but I know how to get there.”

The best laid plans o’ mice and men? Vanity of vanities!

It had to have been John Lennon who said, “Life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans.”

This book and this plant are dedicated to those who truly live and truly grow; to those few who refuse to believe that the goal of life is to have one.

Like John Coltrane molding the hot wax of sound, this book is for those who live life from beginning to end.