Red Lantern Sky
by Joshua Giles
Joshua Giles graduated from the University of the Incarnate Word in May 2025 with a major in English and a minor in Creative Writing. Although he did not begin his academic career as an English major, he quickly discovered that is where he belonged after changing majors in 2022 and being welcomed into the English family with open arms. The support and guidance of the English faculty shaped his growth as both a writer and a student. He would especially like to thank Dr. D'Amico, Dr. Armstrong, Dr. Stampfl, and Dr. Baker, while also recognizing that every professor in the department played a meaningful role in the person—and writer—he became by the time he graduated.
A swollen red lantern hangs over the city skyline, heavy and holy in the hush—
Like the sky has cracked its heart open and left it burning there for me to witness,
And for one breathless moment, the whole world feels small enough to hold in my trembling hands.