Ariel Basom (he/him) writes stories and poems with a focus on difference—the feelings and experiences that move us to be more human. Interested in equity, social justice, psychology, identity, and those eccentricities that put us squarely in the greater whole of humanity as well as mark us as individuals, he believes literature has the power to question dominant culture. His work can be found in en*gendered, Chunk, Bitchin’ Kitsch, New Note Poetry, King County Library, Quarterly Vue, Lavender Lime Literary, and more. He holds an MFA in creative writing from Goddard College and an MAT from Antioch University. He is a 4Culture King County Artist Award Recipient. Ariel lives, writes, reads, and teaches in Seattle.