By Ashby Neterer Since wild winds have gone and restless rains have ceased and starry skies broke into dawn, you cut your anchor free. Now that storm has passed, and waves wound down their rage, you broke the chain that bound you fast at your most needful stage. But when the clouds collect, and you, … Continue reading Anchor
Dawn
By Kal Stein Soft light under gray skiesA gentle rain fallingThe quiet sound of waterWashing the grass and stonesSoothing my soulThey are all asleepWarm under the coversStill dreaming, wrapped in memoriesAs the morning beginsWaiting for no onePossibilities aboundTo be seizedThis day will not happen again Kal Stein resumed writing poetry after retiring from a lifetime … Continue reading Dawn
Seasons
By Vern Fein You can’t slip and fall on sunshinewhich reveals my prejudiceagainst Old Man Winterwho I would trip whenhe wasn’t lookingcause him to falland break his anklelike my boss didon that black ice at the airportwhich he couldn’t see because of the sun glare.Oh shoot.You have to be carefulevery season. A recent octogenarian, Vern … Continue reading Seasons
Beauty and the Feast
By Alex Andy Phuong Bounty full of beautyA feast for the sensesTaste a colorful rainbowAs a way to understand howThe power of nowReveals the gift of the presentAnd being alive,And after expressing gratitude For sustenance,Have a hopeful attitudeAs a way to seeHow to improve reality,For elegance and refinement Might reign supreme,But the necessity of foodReveals … Continue reading Beauty and the Feast
Mountain Ash
By Gregg Norman it stood alone lakesidewith only tules close bybut back a bittall Burr Oakslooked over itwith favorthere in no-man’s-landwhere none but spiritsand gods held swaywe thought thenas people dothat it might doto fill a spotby the cottagethat needed a treesensibly if notdesperatelyso we dug it outthough its rootsdefied our bladescut off at the … Continue reading Mountain Ash
Yousmarg Meadows
By Shamik Banerjee Yousmarg meadows, dressed in dew,Tell your flowers' mottled crew,"Welcome him as one of you,"And here I'll gladly stay.Butterflies, the Redstart's calls,Rivulets and waterfalls,Conifers, and white-ridged wallsWill greet me night and day.If you can, among your blooms,Make for me a little room,It will save me from the gloomThat laps the worldly bay. Shamik … Continue reading Yousmarg Meadows
Luther’s Story and Lydia’s Sampler
By John Ziegler Luther’s Story The aroma of white cheddar, and bread, warm on the palm,the joke about Leiderkrantz.His father’s long lip over smokey teeth,white shirt, trimmed nailssmooth hands of a baker.The woman in the fox fursipping camomile in the dark restaurant,the iron sounds of the night across the river.The barber’s chair,the fragrant foam, collarless … Continue reading Luther’s Story and Lydia’s Sampler
The Village Water Tank
By Ramil F. Jasareno It’s been two decades since the engineer left, the oldwater tank stands like a tombwaiting for his visit. I still rememberwhen he first came, holdinga sketch plan nobody understoodor bothered to look.My father was firm. The engineer could not use the existing deep wellfor water source, as the village dependson it … Continue reading The Village Water Tank
Closing Time
By Peter Rustin After the recession, the formerly splendid Main Street could only support one jewelry shop—barely. Harry was getting ready to close early as the streetlight shadows grew long under the monochrome winter sky. Emma had already left to pick up the twins from ballet, leaving Harry to finish removing the jewelry and watches … Continue reading Closing Time
All Ears
By Peter F. Crowley “Hello, is Rudy Mucci there?” “Speaking.” “This is Albert Moonstruker. It is a pleasure to talk with you.” “Likewise,” said Rudy, an 83-year-old with paper-white hair. He glanced at the pictures of his triplet grandchildren, now 15, on a refrigerator magnet before opening the door and taking out a jug of … Continue reading All Ears
Academy of the Heart And Mind 