As a mother shares a mug of hot chocolate with her son, she reflects on the traditions her own mother passed down.
by Crystal Simone Smith | illustration by Jenn Hales

Crystal Simone Smith is the author of Dark Testament (Henry Holt, 2023). She is also the
author of three poetry chapbooks. Her work has appeared in numerous journals including POETRY Magazine. Smith teaches in the Thompson Writing Program at Duke University. Learn about her work at crystalsimonesmith.com.

Jenn Hales is a Raleigh-based artist whose bright, cheerful work brings humor and lightness to what can be a stressful world. Hales graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a degree in Industrial Design. She’s been a full-time artist since 2010. Find more of her work at lemonhales.com.

This article originally appeared in the February 2024 issue of WALTER magazine.