By Duane Anderson The weather change was a welcomed change,one from negative degrees to one of mid-sixtiescausing the snow to melt,the formation of puddles,and flowing streams into the streets,just what two little boys were waiting foras they rode their strider bike and peddle carthrough the water,loving every minute of it,not missing a single puddle of … Continue reading Puddle Love
Blue
By Nancy Stephan It’s the gloomy harvest goldthat swallows an entire houseon a hot boring summer daywhen your mom won’t get out of bedeven though it’s two in the afternoonand the square-faced fan has been blowingits hot breath across her face since nine last night.Never mind that you crossed Grant Streeton your bike and spent … Continue reading Blue
East of Midnight
By Benjamin Karren School’s eulogy crackles in trillium-laced mountain air—twenty fence posts down a dirt road, a cremationfor chemistry finals and college rejection letters,a black Camaro thrumming Stairway to Heavengasoline-drenched cliques ignited by graduation. My burned CDs and letterman jacket obsolete—we won’t be remembered after tomorrow.My scorched pep rally speech, charred saxophone solo,engulfed chess positions … Continue reading East of Midnight
Three Little Things
By Anna Seidman In my traditionThe world is sustained by three thingsTruth, justice and peaceBut if “truth” includes the infinite experiences, thoughts and realitiesOf every living thing“Justice” means eight billion conceptsOf right and wrongAnd “peace” is something we all believe in,Until it gets in the way of everything else we believe in,Then it doesn’t fit … Continue reading Three Little Things
Bayreuth
By Jack D. Harvey Bayreuth was published in pif, which ceased publication a couple of years ago. Bird Wagner'svast moaty throatsings bastions of eaglesup through thesmoky aether.Either he's mador me:one.Before the honest soundBrünhildcrashes intoheroic bric-a-brac;pukka Mercurycrowds abovethe storm of notes,landscapes of cymbalsand violins;the escarpments of Mosessmoke like chimneys,dwarfing the vast vaultfilled with themusic's life.Across the … Continue reading Bayreuth
Visual Art
By Andy Graber Andy is a visual artist who tries to create his own unique style of visual imagery. Sometimes, he likes to write poetry and sing.
Mothers and Sons
By Stan Wild I look at him now, as I become conscious that my eyes have been on my screen, and I realise that he has lolled across my line of vision so as to meet my gaze. My son is in the nappy that he slept in, and so I wipe him down and … Continue reading Mothers and Sons
A Game of Chess
By Michael J. D'Alfonsi The first time I played Brooke Davidon she was twelve and had just discovered how to weaponize her voice. “Checkmate,” she declared, the moment her hand left the bishop. Her tone was almost apologetic, like she genuinely pitied my stupidity. It was six in the evening and the windowless multi-purpose room. … Continue reading A Game of Chess
A Parable as Sung to a Quasi-Existent God
By Earl Smith I sit on my twig – listening - watching. Below they sit beside the running stream, these two greatest of all men - musing, watching a wave waiting ever patiently for the rock that has blocked its way to finish its sedentary undertaking. “That wave, it moves yet not at all, how … Continue reading A Parable as Sung to a Quasi-Existent God
Evening Market
By J.S. O’Keefe dread pulsates through the evening market under dying neon lights strange men armor shimmering prowl throughtheir eyes are hidden behind mirrored visorstheir movements seem smooth almost clinical I want to study their facesare they chiseled cold sullen do they have their own hopes secrets sorrows suddenly I can see one of them … Continue reading Evening Market
Academy of the Heart And Mind 