Kindling
By Sarah Dickenson Snyder My first kiss was under a leaf pilemy face flecked with fall—latermy father burned the moundin front of our house on the edgeof Elm Street. All … Continue Reading Kindling
Animals and Empathy
By Nik Shultz One of my favorite toys as a child were Littlest Pet Shop pets. I had, and continue to have, quite a collection of the small cartoonish animals. … Continue Reading Animals and Empathy
The Cure
Toti O’Brien Of the tree that shed a gigantic branchflooding it with a shot of lymphsucked up from the roots, causing it to burstexploded by centrifugal pressureI heard the sacrifice … Continue Reading The Cure
Somewhere, In the Distance
By Christopher Palmer Waiting for the bus ITurn to face the freezing rain,Hear the quick-low tapping on my glasses. Gentle but sharp, not moving too quickly.Tendrils of a distant fire … Continue Reading Somewhere, In the Distance
No Longer Used!
By William C. Crawford William C. Crawford is a photographer based in Winston Salem, NC. He invented Forensic Foraging, a throwback, minimalist approach for modern digital photographers. His new book, … Continue Reading No Longer Used!
Comfort Objects
By Nik Shultz I am taking a break from talking about dolls now, on account of the contest we are currently holding. If you haven’t seen we are accepting writing … Continue Reading Comfort Objects
What the DVT Loves about the MRI
By Mary Christine Delea is its cool detachment. The machine hasnothing to lose or gain no matterwhat is discovered. The MRI, all metaland lights, knows only its own sounds, noises … Continue Reading What the DVT Loves about the MRI
A Straight Shot Between Friends
By Bonnie Larson Staiger after Margaret Haberman’s “How to Make Espresso” In the center of the continentmy landlocked coffee machinegurgles and spits mannaand crema in my insulated mug.Not bad actually … Continue Reading A Straight Shot Between Friends
Comfort Contest!
Writing can be one spectacular coping mechanism for disaster, and the past year has inspired many brilliant pieces. But turning pain into art about pain is one thing. How can … Continue Reading Comfort Contest!
High School Fashion Dolls
By Nik Shultz When I was just about the age when it was no longer cool to care about dolls, Monster High dolls came out, creating a phenomenon that I … Continue Reading High School Fashion Dolls
Reckless
By William Cass When I was a little boy, I lived for a short time with my uncle’s family while my mom, his younger sister, spent a stint in rehab. … Continue Reading Reckless
What Would Houdini Do?
By Jan Zlotnik Schmidt (with thanks to Judy, who asked the question) “Man that is born falls into a dream like a man who falls into the sea. If he … Continue Reading What Would Houdini Do?
A History
By Nik Shultz So by now you might have a sense of my history with dolls, but you still might be confused about why I find them interesting. Let’s look … Continue Reading A History
Mrs. Hardy
By Steven M. Smith in memory of my grandparents’ house cleaner Oh, rubber-gloved heroineof my grandparents’ household!Hair and freckles the color of ripestrawberries. Diminutive, feistymatriarch of the O-Cedar sponge mopand … Continue Reading Mrs. Hardy
Four-Leaf Clover
By Zhihui Zou It was a peaceful hilltop covered by clovers, three-leaf clovers. But that spring, a four-leaf clover grew from a seed that had traveled over in the wind … Continue Reading Four-Leaf Clover
An Explanation
By Nik Shultz So you might be wondering, Why dolls? But before I can answer that question I think I need to give a bit of backstory. I never quite … Continue Reading An Explanation