Megan Merchant “The hospital intake form wants me to declare a religion.”
Megan Merchant The hospital intake form wants me to declare a religion. When I was nine, I let a patch of dandelions grow by the church-white walls so they too could be scolded for beauty and when...
View ArticleStacy R. Nigliazzo “Mountain Fold”
Stacy R. Nigliazzo Mountain Fold We culled the nettle from her lung— she flew, a red kite rowing a pleat of light, unthreaded eye. Stacy R. Nigliazzo‘s debut poetry collection Scissored Moon was...
View ArticleStacy R. Nigliazzo “Petal Fold”
Stacy R. Nigliazzo Petal Fold The surgeon knows all the parts of the brain but he does not know his patient’s dreams. –Richard Selzer The blade steps through the door of her abdomen, spills across...
View ArticleStacy R. Nigliazzo “Gunwale”
Stacy R. Nigliazzo Gunwale An oar will not help when the water wakes— anchor through the floor, closed fist on the siderai Stacy R. Nigliazzo‘s debut poetry collection Scissored Moon was published in...
View ArticleStephen Toft “Tanka Poem”
Stephen Toft Tanka Poem The ocean reclaims the seashell, reclaims the sound of itself. Stephen Toft is a poet and homelessness worker who lives with his girlfriend and their children in Lancaster, UK.
View ArticleNeil Creighton “Sun Dance”
Neil Creighton Sun Dance If only I could throw words onto the page like Jackson Pollock threw paint onto the canvas, a kind of divine anarchy, beautiful chaos celebrating nothing but itself,...
View ArticleHowie Good “The Killers”
Howie Good The Killers Assassins and secret policemen, just following protocol, experiment on each other to relieve their boredom or queasiness, regularly say “Cool!” and “Awesome!” and “Got it!” while...
View ArticleTim Brockett “Failure”
Tim Brockett Failure W. K. Kellogg, cereal magnate from Michigan’s Bible Belt, made only one corn flake that looks exactly like Jesus. Tim Brockett writes poetry and juggles flaming pianos, often...
View ArticleTim Brockett “Recycling Day”
Tim Brockett Recycling Day In a blue plastic bin at my curb, the thought of his tongue in your mouth waits to be sanitized and shredded, then pressed into the image of the loving, peaceful home dreamed...
View ArticleKip Knott
Kip Knott Temporary Agnostic For a moment I believe in the possibility of something beyond this life as I watch my son roll down the hill past familial headstones, the tiny bones of dandelions clinging...
View ArticleJudith Solano Mayer “I don’t know if entitlement …”
Judith Solano Mayer I don’t know if entitlement is an intuitive lean in the right direction, but my guest is apoplectic amid the meditative stillness surrounding the table: gelded papayas in a mottled...
View ArticleDavid James “I Wouldn’t Be Afraid”
David James I Wouldn’t Be Afraid if you told me that the end would ease me into the afterlife like a clock winding down quietly, gently, if you could guarantee me a sweet kiss in that final second...
View ArticleMegan Collins “Artemis’ Confession”
Megan Collins Artemis’ Confession Some nights she imagines the moon as a pregnant belly, imagines herself as the sky. Megan Collins is a writer, teacher, and editor, whose work can be seen at...
View ArticleBrad Rose “I Overheard the Homeless Vet”
Brad Rose I Overheard the Homeless Vet When some guy in a blue suit, instead of giving him change, righteously reared up and asked him why he didn’t have a job and work like the rest of us human...
View ArticleGeorge Lee “In response to Janos Pilinszky: Definition of your attraction”
George Lee In response to Janos Pilinszky: Definition of your attraction By an eternally nourished animal’s side An eternally nourished animal walks. George Lee has a lot to be very happy about at the...
View ArticleSteve Klepetar “Reflection”
Steve Klepetar Reflection When I glimpsed you in the mirror on that night of clouds and dark stars your image danced to a silent tune a song that echoed through my skull the shadow sound of trumpets...
View ArticleMegan Lam “Period”
Megan Lam Period I’ll see you when I close the cover, when I rip the pages, and when my eyes glance down the last sentence to the final speck of silence. Megan Lam is a classical pianist, music...
View ArticleJennifer Wortman “Soon”
Jennifer Wortman Soon When my sadness over your leaving leaves, I’ll be left twice. Jennifer Wortman likes to sleep, but she’s not so good at it.
View ArticleJ. R. Solonche “To My Notebook”
J. R. Solonche To My Notebook I spilled red wine on you your lap, and I’m sorry, but now you know how I feel without me having to spell it out for you in so many words. J. R. Solonche has been...
View ArticleJ. R. Solonche “To My Arthritis”
J. R. Solonche To My Arthritis I’ll see you in hell, Art, but in the meantime, I hope you appreciate your home away from home. J.R. Solonche is author of Beautiful Day (Deerbrook Editions), Won’t Be...
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