-
An Everglades Encounter
by John Grey What emerges from swamp, spiraling like a moving S or coiling up on itself? What announces primal life force to a man’s quickened breath? What can strike like lightning or slither away on its belly into grass or water or myth? The floating island seems drawn by ropes underneath. Wings of stork…
-
Anger, Shame and Blame
by John Garmon I grew up in anger, shame, and blame. I found later others knew the same. Moving around this country, I was aware Of living in a nation of much despair. I know you won’t find it everywhere, However, it is there. All of it is there. Some ignore it almost successfully. Then…
-
A New Note From Underground
by Cliff Saunders The less you can understand, the more it hurts. — Fyodor Dostoevsky, Notes from Underground & Can’t stand sickly streets full of holes. Can’t find a loop of grace in the Holy City. The children are silent, and blue with cold.The revolution is devouring their road, endless as a month…
-
Getting Even, Oddly Enough
by Cliff Saunders Even white snow is full of bacteria, full of passion and a sigh. Be thankful for its sex appeal. September sings, even to spouses who need a bodyguard of lies. Even a blue wave sings beautifully but leaves out something important. Let a thousand flowers love it nonetheless. Everything must go, even…
-
A White Singer In a Black Blues Club
by John Grey The big woman plays the piano. Modified blues for white fingers. She may not fit the model but still wants her story told. That’s why she bellows like there’s slaves in her ancestry. There’s not. Hollers like the whip came down. It didn’t. Her pain, her bruises, come with a history that’s…
-
When Opposites Meet
by Angelica Liu Twilight and rains followed us here Daylight and city were left behind The ancient temple lies in its lonely solemnity Intruders, we had met the end of our world Here the opposites meet The day was meeting the night The summer was meeting the autumn The civilized was meeting the primitive The…
-
Three Haikus
by James Roderick Burns With equal gracelight falls on both crowand chorister Catkinsalmost soot-freehalf a mile from town Just as good –the printed snow-goose’swild inky honks.&& James Roderick James Roderick Burns is the author of three short-form collections, most recently The Worksongs of the Worms (2018). His work has appeared in The Guardian, The North,…
-
Lies
by Brittany Miric Lies.Lies that hideEyesThat shyAway from truths that you no longer need to survive.Lay down your armsI mean you no harmIf loving you is wrong then I’ll never be rightBut loving you is hardWhen you leave my sightEvery single nightLikeI don’t existWhat do I do with thisPainLet me explainAs I weep in the…
-
A Foggy Night
by Anthony Salandy There was something about that nightWhere trees grew blurry in the mistOf an arising autumn so mysticYet so seemingly clear at the same time- Because on that foggy nightThe moon could be seen far and wideAs if presiding over the danceOf clouds oh so near to the ground, And as the darkened skies…
-
Six Haikus
by Sunita Sahoo splash of rain on my windowpane the world seems blurry crack of dawn languid doves whitewashed canopy a blue damselfly in distress stuck in cobweb Monsoon rain – frolicking paper boats a bonfire of change engulfs the world hatred burns coffee steam bookmarked page the scent of rain & & Sunita Sahoo…