Persimmon Tree, an online magazine of the arts by women over sixty, testifies to the ever-increasing fruitfulness, unparalleled wisdom, and sheer creative power that dwells within the generation of women writers who have walked the road ahead of us. The works in the Summer 2013 issue are bold and honest, narrating – with great craftsmanship – a few of the most challenging experiences that we all, sooner or later, face in some form.

Gloria Steinem once noted that “women may be the one group that grows more radical with age,” and this publication certainly suggests that having a few decades under one’s belt makes for radically truthful writing that recognizes the messiness of life – that unceasing, unpredictable cycle of joy, pain, and renewal – when it sees it. Each piece in Persimmon Tree’s latest volume seems to subtly offer comfort to readers who may find themselves in the valleys of existence while its author, serene and sage-like, reflects from her perch on the top of the mountain after making the long, difficult climb herself.

The work included in this online journal impresses in its range of topics and consistent quality of writing. While it is difficult to say which pieces I admired most, I have managed to narrow it down to some highlights for you. From the fiction portion, Mary J. Breen’s “A Criminal Menopause” stands out for its clever portrait of a “menopausal Robin Hood” who decides to prove her usefulness and showcase her talents by engaging in criminal activity. “Relations and Friends” by Martie Collins, which chronicles how a woman’s dinner-table gossip about others’ adultery begins to influence her husband’s feelings about their marriage, is noteworthy for its provocative theme and relevance to our own daily conversations.

The nonfiction selections are equally as strong and polished. Sherry Ruth Anderson’s “A Secret I Should Be Keeping” beautifully explores the mysterious joys of growing old, of coming “the whole way through” life with dignity and grace. “Keeping Score” by Stephanie Wilson Medlock shows how our childhood can haunt us, even late in life, as a daughter remembers her mother’s flaws and questions whether she can avoid making the same mistakes. And then there is Meredith Escudier’s short “Like It or Not,” a humorous description of the author’s own feelings of exasperation caused by the overuse of the word “like” in modern conversations; her proposed solution will bring a grin to any grammarian’s visage.

Persimmon Tree hosts a poetry contest twice annually, accepting submissions from poets living in a certain region of the country for each contest. The summer issue features excellent works by female poets from the northeastern states and is guest-edited by Alice Friman. Must-reads include Penny Harter’s “After and Because,” a gut-wrenching portrait of a family nearly destroyed by guilt and loss; Christina Woś Donnelly’s “The Poet Thanks the Master but Has Small Need of Chairs,” which gives an intimate glimpse into the poet’s craft and lifestyle; and “Of Two Minds” by Sb Sowbel, a woman’s musing on the glory of sainthood after years of sin and the interesting conclusion that she lacks the passion required to embody either state.

The issue also features artwork from the sculptor Janet Goldner and some “short takes” focusing on the seductive and elusive aspects of money.

So if you’re in need of some really good reading material, be sure to check out the latest from Persimmon Tree, available for free here:  http://www.persimmontree.org/v2/.

Photo credit: “Persimmons in Provence” by Rokhaya Waring