By Ayla Padida Summer stood over her weak, sick mother. Lauren was too close to death. "Summer, take over the lighthouse while I am sick," she rasped, before handing a chain to her daughter. Summer nodded solemly, and exited the room, footsteps receding. She curiosly trotted over to the lighthouse across the road from their … Continue reading The Lighthouse Keepers
Am I a photo or am I a painting?
By Ginette Pestana and James Aitchison The image was created by my wife GINETTE PESTANA. We are a husband-and-wife photographer-writer team, GINETTE PESTANA and JAMES AITCHISON, touring the world and experiencing all kinds of memories and images. Am I a photo or am I a painting? A piece of digital mischief or just a quirky … Continue reading Am I a photo or am I a painting?
Dejeuner
By Craig Kirchner Originally Published in Chiron Review, Summer ‘24 Sparrows gathered on the veranda, we eavesdropped on nearby lovers, hand fed one another tapas, swigged lewd licks on Czech beer. Under the table you hiked your skirt, opened your thighs around my knee, animated codes with delicate hands,laughed about our first time. Surrounded by … Continue reading Dejeuner
Thread Count
By David Lavenda It’s a choice—or is it?I’m simultaneously the windshield and fly, already speeding toward it.White, oblong solid.100mg, stamped—miniature epitaph—designed to stop the hammeringbetween my ribsthat nails me to sheets—pillows, blankets.Taste of bitter promise,the throat constricts around what mustbe swallowed.I cave to gravity—the mattress learning my shape,iron on my tongue—the pill's aftertaste or just … Continue reading Thread Count
Form and Feeling, or How to Write What Needs to Be Written
By Angela Lam If I wrote for late night TV, I might have submitted this script for The Daily Show: Jon Stewart flourishes his blue pen across the blue page. When the intro music stops, he says, “Forget politics! Let’s discuss family matters.” When the audience laughs, Jon points to the overhead video of Rose … Continue reading Form and Feeling, or How to Write What Needs to Be Written
Dragon Rising
By L.S. Engler First appeared in Bowlful of Bunnies, June 2012 Possum, Rabbit, and Prairie Dog had all gone to the river to do the washing, and I had followed to watch them. The sun was bright in the cornflower sky, and hot, so after they had dunked the clothes in the gentle rushing stream, … Continue reading Dragon Rising
This Must Be The Place
By Brandon Sharp I’m not saying that there’s a convenient time for someone to die, but. This takes the cakes baked from Brooklyn to Barstow. I’m on schedule to the nanosecond this morning when my sister calls me and tells me Auntie died. Just like that she tells me, no warning. —Auntie Alma is no … Continue reading This Must Be The Place
Haiku
By F.S. Blake Swollen riverbankscarry branches to new groundI drift but don’t sink.Next year could be worse,another autumn of pain,but hopefully peace.No more ornaments,after this year’s Christmas daysthey stay packed away.Bathed in dreamy light,I am alone on a beach,joined by my new dreams.weekend after next maybe we go ice skating till then we can text … Continue reading Haiku
Sea-Glass
By Ben Macnair A salt water wash.A deeper blue.A thousand different pieces.The original liquid it contained,only drops in an ocean,battered by time, and the crueltyof nature that lives by her own morality.The rubbish from ships,or too many romantics lookingfor answers in a message that nobody will read.A love letter, consigned to memory,all of the little … Continue reading Sea-Glass
Grandma Was Here Last Night
By Cithara Patra “I saw Grandma in my dream last night. Oh, she was there in the morning.” My son Joey fluffs his pillow before resting his head on it. He pulls the dull white hospital sheets over his body. My heart aches to see my little boy preparing for his surgery tomorrow, but he’s … Continue reading Grandma Was Here Last Night
Academy of the Heart And Mind 