THE ARTIFACT — JOSHUA WALKER
My Dearest … An Audio Letter
Author Statement
This piece began as an essay, transitions into a prose narrative of found notes, culminates in a poem that serves as the artifact’s mystical core, and concludes with a reflective essay and postscript. The structure is intentionally recursive, with each form emerging from the last, reflecting both the investigative process and the layered otherworldliness of the artifact itself.
As a poet working with disability and living with schizoaffective disorder, I approach the boundaries of perception, memory, and narrative with both intensity and curiosity. This work explores liminal spaces, marginal perspectives, and the ways in which the mind engages with the unknown.
Joshua Walker, known as The Last Bard, is an independent poet, writer, and hybrid artist whose work bridges classical poetic traditions with contemporary experimentation. Living with schizoaffective disorder, he explores perception, memory, and marginal perspectives through poetry, prose, and multimedia forms. His work often navigates the liminal, interrogating otherworldly, mystical, and transformative spaces. Published in Potomac Review, Solarpunk Magazine, Libre, and Southern Florida Poetry Journal, he maintains a fully independent literary practice, engaging readers across digital platforms and experimental literary landscapes. Social media: Instagram / Threads: @bigjosh84thelastbard • Bluesky: @bigjosh84
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