Southword is a literary journal featuring new writing from around the globe. Issue 49 includes short stories from Alannah Hopkin and Alan McMonagle, poems from Traci Brimhall and Gerry Murphy, and essays from our Southword Creative Nonfiction Competition including first prize winner Judith Crozier. Southword Creative Non-Fiction Award Judith Crozier (winner), Luisa A. Igloria, Eve Marie Power Poems Amy Abdullah Barry, Faye Boland, Traci Brimhall, Ella Barron Carton, Alicia Byrne Keane, Sterling Davis, Lauren Davis, Julia Deakin, Jane Eris, Caoilfhin Foley, Paul Friedinger, GTimothy Gordon, David Harsent, Karla Hirsch, Maeve Keane, Neethu Krishnan, Aidan Mathews, Hannah McCann, Michelle McMillan-Holifield, Jasmine Melchor, Meghan Miraglia, JLM Morton, James Mulvihill, Gerry Murphy, Thomas Alexander Gaul, Shoba Narayan, Lani O'Hanlon, Ciaran O'Rourke, Mat Riches, Nnadi Samuel, Gwen Sayers, John W. Sexton, Breda Spaight, Victoria Spaulding, Todd Turner, Niamh Twomey, Ross Williamson, Patrick Wright Fiction Alannah Hopkin, Sohana Manzoor, Eamon McGuinness, Donal McLaughlin, Alan McMonagle, Eliza Tracey Cover Image ‘A Shrine for the Mother of Birds’ by Fidelma Massey