“Sakoku”
by Stephen S. Power Laden with sunlight, the doug-firs have bent. Even your shadow gives off a bright scent. Noon is a bride; midnight, her dowry. Striped by the dusk, … Continue Reading “Sakoku”
“Call for Submission” and “What Pains Me the Most”
by Brendan Todt “Call for Submission” “What Pains Me the Most” Brendan Todt lives and teaches in Sioux City, Iowa. His most recent work has been featured in Pithead Chapel and The Ekphrastic … Continue Reading “Call for Submission” and “What Pains Me the Most”
“Probing Voyages” and “La Mosca”
by Ben Nardolilli “Probing Voyages” Making observations and gleaningData from the satellite life I am living,The years are secure in their orbits,And I pass through them withoutFinding enough gravity to … Continue Reading “Probing Voyages” and “La Mosca”
“Adult”
by Fatima Jafar after Rhiannon McGavinM brings home a thingold bottle of perfumeafter work: Spring in the Park. Sunbottled, the roomflowers. Burstsfecund and greenwith our late-night talk.Speak a daisy, a … Continue Reading “Adult”
“Corpse Flower”
by William Doreski Night rain curdles in the weeds.At three AM I’m readingFlannery O’Connor aloudto the cats. They deplorethe racial language but lovethe texture, dialogue, and useof local color. What … Continue Reading “Corpse Flower”
When
by Anna Heneise When I turn eight, my mother sits me down and tells me I am dyslexic. She says most kids learn how to read when they are five … Continue Reading When
“Not Your Horoscope” and “Bethlehem”
by Morgan Boyer “Not Your Horoscope” Aries: You’ll splash your milk on the blouseyou were going to wear to your interview Taurus: You alarm went off, but didn’t hear it … Continue Reading “Not Your Horoscope” and “Bethlehem”
“September”
by Anoushka Chauhan Anoushka Chauhan is a law student from India, who sometimes writes poetry inspired by love, loss and personal experiences. Mostly, she likes owls, the color red, and … Continue Reading “September”
“Honeymoon” and “Moment of Silence”
by Turner Wilson “Honeymoon” Our omelets were stiff hotel pillowslaundered with creme fraiche. Wooddeck slats heated with the smellof lacquer. Her lungs: a treeshifting in the wind. There’s nothingon TV; … Continue Reading “Honeymoon” and “Moment of Silence”
“Snippets of You”
by Hafsa Mumtaz (Author’s Note: This poem is inspired by the painting Midnight (1979) by Pakistan’s most famous female artist, Zubeida Agha. https://www.artsy.net/artwork/zubeida-agha-midnight ) “Snippets of You” an excrescence of … Continue Reading “Snippets of You”
“Thunder Dream” and “Big Bang”
by Carolyn Adams “Thunder Dream” In her dreaming,she rides with the stars,their splinters in her hair.The slant path of some beaminterrupts the sacred blackof the interstellar.She cruises on.Cut moons, meteors, … Continue Reading “Thunder Dream” and “Big Bang”
“Who Are You?”
by Eve Lessard A large hand reaches out to a young boy with a tear-streaked face. The boy’s clothes are covered in mud and blood dribbles down his temple. He … Continue Reading “Who Are You?”
“I remember it all now.”
by Daniela Lilly A left eye, twitchingSince the bread knife disappearedFrom the first kitchen drawer Knock, knock. Choking, on luke-warmwater from the neighbour’sMouth-wringing hose Who’s there? An unmistakably laden smellFrom … Continue Reading “I remember it all now.”
Highway Star
by Mark Crimmins My wife was seeing George Shepard in Manhattan, and with the swift calculating power of the math teacher I was, I decided to drive to the Big … Continue Reading Highway Star
“Ode to Fudgie the Whale” and “Aquarium”
by Vivian Eyre “Ode to Fudgie the Whale” Oh, first loves always hold their power. When I saw you through that cellophane window of the Carvel box, my shadow vanished … Continue Reading “Ode to Fudgie the Whale” and “Aquarium”
Heat
by Don Stoll Father James Thayer was more thrilled than anyone could have known to come back to Massachusetts. He was thrilled in particular by his specific destination: Cravemoor Abbey. … Continue Reading Heat