We are delighted to bring you Issue One of TERN Journal. This issue was a collaboration between the editors, including our new managing editor, Lara-Mareen Förster, and poetry editors, Elise Bickford, Dabin Jeong, and Annie Gerard Livingston.

In this issue, you will find poetry by Allison Cundiff, Olivia G. Rose, Lêđức Trọng, Roberts Vilsons (translated from Latvian by Lauris Veips), and Nikolai Klyuev (translated from Russian by Rozalija Grace); short fiction by Zsófia Czakó (translated from Hungarian by Marietta Morry and Walter Burgess); creative non-fiction by Miklós Vámos (translated from Hungarian by Ági Bori); and riddles (translated by Denis Forhatović). A conversation on migration, taste, and sound with multisensory artist Emeka Ogboh and TERN editor Lara-Mareen Förster reflects the international focus of the issue.

The texts investigate how spaces are inhabited and perceived by humans and nonhumans, including animals, nature, and machines, with ritual, humor, and care. You will encounter birds (who return and return), praying sharks, resourceful camels, and lonely ATMs.

Artwork by Sejal Popat complements the literary texts, including the cover photo and one additional illustration which was inspired by Lauris Veips’ translations of Roberts Vilsons.

Thank you to our contributors for trusting us with your work: Allison Cundiff, Olivia G. Rose, Lêđức Trọng, Roberts Vilsons, Lauris Veips, Nikolai Klyuev, Rozalija Grace, Zsófia Czakó, Marietta Morry, Walter Burgess, Miklós Vámos, Ági Bori, Denis Forhatović, Emeka Ogboh, and Sejal Popat.

We would like to thank our mentors, Chris Schaberg, Director of the Office of Public Scholarship, and Matthias Göritz, Professor of Practice, and the support from our home department at WashU, Comparative Literature & Thought.

—Stephanie, Lara, and Rebecca