By Stephen Kingsnorth Touchstone My hero’s nature seen in the field, landscape laid for bloom and seed, words worth reading, learning creed, where heart buried, under ground. Hearts unaware, sink, daffodils - thought gaudy, banded, bucket bunch, an Easter easy, child-mind bribe - this crowded host without a guide, no manual, dead heading, scythe, flow … Continue reading Touchstone and Other Poems
Resurrection and Other Poems
By Stephen Kingsnorth Resurrection I hear praise, awe the redwoods win, and oaks, withstood near battle scars, but my gem, acorn, palmed, admired, a prospect stored, squirrel ignored. I see them bury, gnaw, forget, a sapling fighting undergrowth, then filtered light through canopy calls for the greenman cambium. And it finds how to rise again, … Continue reading Resurrection and Other Poems
Passing and Other Poems
By Stephen Kingsnorth Passing How quickly turns that silken purse - as though sow’s ear is taking space, hears jealousy, lost in revenge - but dew has dried, curl edges bruised, and secateurs deadhead at speed, already eager for rebirth. From best of blooms that nodding spreads, as if in shame, taut stretch neck drapes, … Continue reading Passing and Other Poems
Follow the Foot and Other Poems
By Ken Gosse Follow the Foot an ekphrastic poem about an accidental selfie of my foot Whose toes are those which I suppose will tread the tread where each step rose beneath the carpet on each stair, well-worn although not yet thread-bare? The foot itself shows signs of age while still demanding to engage its … Continue reading Follow the Foot and Other Poems
A Little Rowboat and Other Poems
By Louis Efron Little Rowboat Afloat on still, open waters Carriage over an abyss Sun drawing its last breath Biting gale tunnels looming showers A murky cotton blanket rolls across the sky With deliberate strokes I swing the oars Searching for shore, any shore Another lonely night Without lullaby Without guiding light Lids heavy with … Continue reading A Little Rowboat and Other Poems
Mia’s Tree
By William Kitcher A sapling sprouted between the asphalt of the driveway and a wooden beam that was the border of a flower garden left to grow wild. The only person who noticed it was Mia, who was four years old. Naturally, she didn’t know much about trees – not many people do – but … Continue reading Mia’s Tree
A Slippery Rope and Other Poems
By Michael Neville A Slippery Rope I feel inside there ain’t no hope… I’m holding on to a slippery rope… I write the words, I sing the song… Everything that can has gone wrong… Nothing that I’ve touched has turned to gold… Look at me now I’m just growing old… Look at me now take … Continue reading A Slippery Rope and Other Poems
Five Micro Poems
By Tabassum Tahmina Shagufta Hussein I. My tears evaporated Into the air. And follows you everywhere, As a Shadow companion. II. My wish is floating aimlessly, Like a kite, Without a destination, To be loved To be taken ground, On the the ground, But only to be lost In the limitless sky, Never to be … Continue reading Five Micro Poems
Little Dom’s
By Niles Reddick Christina and I got engaged at Griffith Observatory overlooking Los Angeles at sunset. We had done most pre-marriage necessities--met each other’s dysfunctional families, shared about previous relationships, and agreed on future goals. We paid the fee to park, walked to the edge of the cliff nearest the Hollywood sign, and stood breathing … Continue reading Little Dom’s
For Harmony
By A.L.F. Fagan My nursing shift at the hospital was finally ending. I’d lost track of time, and my boss, Karen Baker, had to inform me that it was almost time to go home. “Frank,” she says, “Tina just arrived to take over for you. Once you and her have completed the change-of-shift, you can … Continue reading For Harmony
Academy of the Heart And Mind 