A Chorus of Many: Reflecting on the UNFURL Issue
By Sara J. Streeter
In 2021, I remember how drawn I was to Yellow Arrow Journal as I began my foray into the literary journal abyss. Their values and mission aligned with my own, and as a fellow Marylander, I felt a connection to Baltimore. Little did I know I would be a guest editor just a few years later!
All my nonfiction writing is vulnerable and hard to put out into the world, but my story, “Bitter / Sweet” was a particularly tender piece about my adoption journey. After working on it on and off for years, a Yellow Arrow workshop I took with Kerry Graham helped me align the string I was trying to thread through it, and “Bitter / Sweet” was published in Yellow Arrow Journal, kitalo, Vol. IX, No. 2.
In early December 2024, when the email asking if I would be the guest editor popped in my inbox, I had no idea what the next months held—for me personally or for the country. As a working parent with two young kids, I worried about taking on something else, but I knew I would regret passing on the opportunity if I didn’t try. There is never a perfect time to do anything; you just have to do it.
Unfurl: I’ve always loved the word. It ignites so many delicious metaphors and images. When we chose it for the issue’s theme, I envisioned contributors really pushing and pulling the idea, sculpting it into their own. They did not disappoint! Each piece I read was a different interpretation with a range of subjects that captured unfurl from every angle, sense, and phase. I found solace, compassion, and humanity in the words of our contributors. Each piece was a single voice, which together became a powerful chorus of many.
The idea of community has recently been at the forefront of my mind. In her book The Serviceberry, Robin Wall Kimmerer reflects on something she refers to as a “gift economy,” in which individuals share what they have with each other to strengthen connections and invest in trust. “A gift economy nurtures the community bonds that enhance mutual well-being; the economic unit is ‘we’ rather than ‘I,’ as all flourishing is mutual.” To me, this collection of writing embodies a gift economy. Each of these pieces is a unique gift of lived experience and vulnerability. In sharing their precious time, talent, and energy, our contributors make the Yellow Arrow community a rich, vibrant space. Similarly, throughout this months’ long experience (new to me!), Yellow Arrow’s staff and volunteers have extended such gracious support to me every step of the way. Finally, Yellow Arrow Creative Director Alexa Laharty’s contribution of creativity and patience resulted in a truly sensational cover design.
Thank you to our contributors, volunteers, staff, and readers for sharing your gifts. You make our community flourish.
Onward to joy,
Sara
Paperback and PDF versions are now available from the Yellow Arrow bookstore. Discounts are also available (here) if you would like to purchase copies for friends and family (minimum purchase of five). You can also search for Yellow Arrow Journal on any e-book device or anywhere you purchase print and electronic books, including Amazon and most other distribution channels. Discounted bundles of both our 2025 issues are also available from our bookstore.
Sara J. Streeter (she/her), or 한혜숙 Hea Sook Han, is a writer and a Korean-American adoptee. Since starting her writing journey in 2021, Sara found her writing community through Adoptee Voices and developed a meaningful connection to readers, both within the adoption constellation and beyond. She joined the Yellow Arrow community when her piece “Bitter / Sweet” was included in Yellow Arrow Journal kitalo Vol. IX, No. 2. You can find her at sarajstreeter.com.
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