by Nathaniel Lachenmeyer

There is no name for this disease; no doctor could label or explain something so novel and unforeseen. When explanations fail, what is there to do but blame it on the elves? I was struck at the 11th hour—elf-shot just before the gates were set to close. They hit me wherever purpose lies and hit me hard. These days, I use a broken arrow for a pen and blood as ink.

Elf-shot is an old expression for being afflicted with an unknown disease, which, according to folk belief, was caused by an elf arrow.

Nathaniel Lachenmeyer is an award-winning disabled author of books for children and adults. His first book, The Outsider, which takes as its subject his late father’s struggles with schizophrenia and homelessness, was published by Broadway Books. Nathaniel has forthcoming/recently published poems, stories and essays with Reed Magazine, Potomac Review, Epiphany, Permafrost, Berkeley Poetry Review, About Place Journal, Breakwater Review, and DIAGRAM. Nathaniel lives outside Atlanta with his family. NathanielLachenmeyer.com.