By Julia Vaughan Pizza or ThaiIndian or ChineseI don’t feel like cookingThe end ofA winter weekendLazyThe fire’s onBeach walked this morningWith beanies onA bracing bitter windSunday’s rugby’s on TVWatching the Newcastle KnightsFiercely defending against the Auckland WarriorsHot fresh popcorn for startersDeliciously coatedBaz’s recipe of TabascoCashew nut butter and hoisin saucePizza wins tonightAnd Woolies’ naughtyLoaded lemon-poppyseed … Continue reading Sunday Night
Between Heaven and Presence
By Earl Smith Roger Steris reached the gate at LaGuardia airport with the brisk stride of a man who believed that purpose was a form of armor. His backpack - Yale Divinity School patch carefully stitched on - thumped lightly as he walked. He was twenty-eight, newly degreed, bound for what he imagined would be … Continue reading Between Heaven and Presence
Before the Sea
By Muskan Singh A dark night,the edge of the sea—there sits a girl,drowned in a deep calm.Gazing at the open sky,with a quiet smileresting in her eyes.There is no fear of losing,no longing to gain—only a patiencelike the waves of the seashimmering within her.Even in the darkest nights,she continues to shinewith a lightof her own.
I’m lying down but I can’t sleep.
By Luca Zani It’s one thirty-eight in the morning. In your sleep, you shift your knee to a position that looks like the night terrors of a chiropractor. You’re blocking the tv, but I was only listening to the audio anyway. I refuse to believe this is comfortable for you. In your sleep, you smile … Continue reading I’m lying down but I can’t sleep.
Blue Horse
By Yucheng Tao in my dream; its strong body,like a horse on the prairie,like a cowboy's horse.It could fight, it could run.In our hearts,we once rode a blue horsein our dreams,galloping in the land of freedom.Some pain was like a lean horse,running fast for a moment before collapsing.Because my sister and I—our memories didn’t fade.There … Continue reading Blue Horse
On the Prowl
By Mary Bone Smokey eyes in a darkened cave,mesmeric, moltenwith a glowing shine.Shades of bronze,and a warm glow.A mountain lion peers out.He is on the prowl. Mary Bone has had poetry published at The Academy of the Heart and Mind, Active Muse Journal, Lothlorien Poetry Journal, Verse Virtual, Bottlecap Press and other places. Upcoming poetry … Continue reading On the Prowl
Key West
By Luchang Zhu On a bleak winter afternoon,I sat alone in a Panda Express in Illinois.A fortune cookie whispered:“You will cross mountains and oceansand find your way to warmth.”So I flew to Key West—the balmy Conch Republic,where time moves slow as amber honey.Morning found me—sunlight sifting through mist,softening into golden silk.A drunk slept against a … Continue reading Key West
Always There
By PencilNammed The sun used to follow me everywhere—I hated how it burned.Until the day I met her.She stood in the sunflower fields,Hair flying wild like fire,Eyes burning like embers against the sapphire sky.Chocolate melting in the sun,A drop falling onto the yellow petals—Like the beauty mark near her lips.Oh—her smile.Her smile made the sun … Continue reading Always There
Late Afternoon Snapshot
By Charles C. (Charlie) Gaines The last few, flat raysof sunlight dance acrossthe hillside over the way,landing softly on bright green mossand golden flowers that gently sway in the early evening breezes. The squirrel above me,scolds my infatuation with this sight,suggesting I move on, assuring hecan gather one last nut which he has spiedlying beside … Continue reading Late Afternoon Snapshot
On cognition
By James Aitchison It was our last phone call.“I have some cognitive issues,”my cousin told me. “If I goquiet suddenly, and you don’t hear me say anything,I’m still here.”The silence said morethan he ever could. James Aitchison is an Australian author and poet whose work has appeared via the Australian Poetry Anthology, Aesthetica, Poetry for … Continue reading On cognition
Academy of the Heart And Mind 