A cliché of sequins staccatosacross this first verse of sun, acrossundisturbed snow as white and composedas Styrofoam – till you can’t dismisswhat’s winking, what truly is twinkling,or then the burly squirrel bounding through,a cartoon ball bouncing out its tune.Granted, this should finally do you good.In fact, it should go on resoundingagainst the discordant rounds withoutand … Continue reading 12 Days of the Holidays: “New Year’s Resolution” by D.R. James
12 Days of the Holidays: “A Little Bit of Hope” by Claire Griffis
When Jamie was eight years old, her family loaded into their eight-seater suburban and drove to the neighborhood on the west side of town, where the neighbors had decided either collectively or in an act of bizarre subconscious unity of the mind, to cover their yards in the biggest spectacle of lights, red and green … Continue reading 12 Days of the Holidays: “A Little Bit of Hope” by Claire Griffis
12 Days of the Holidays: “Five Winter Haiku” by Jim Bates
Freezing dawn horizonBright streaks of fiery orangeWarms an inner soul.Out comet huntingSaw instead a soft sunsetMagic in the sky.Cold day and blue skyWalking in clear bright sunshineSpirits oh so warm.Choirs singing songsOf peace and joy so soothingLike snowflakes falling.Kids falling asleepSafe and warm with Christmas dreamsOf sleigh bells jingling. Jim lives in a small-town twenty … Continue reading 12 Days of the Holidays: “Five Winter Haiku” by Jim Bates
12 Days of the Holidays: “The Office Christmas Party 2001” by Ben Macnair
The Gestetner has been dreading tonight,it is his first year, after the previous one was broken.Nigel says it wasn’t him, but we know it was.Only he would photocopy his posterior for posterity.The atmosphere between Janet and Lisa has been decidedly frosty,since the incident with the dishwasher, and Janet’s favourite red mug.Sarah has bought in the … Continue reading 12 Days of the Holidays: “The Office Christmas Party 2001” by Ben Macnair
Poetry Collection Announcement
Here's a message from one of our contributors Marianne Brems: I am writing to let you know that one of my poems which appeared in Academy of the Heart and Mind: “Never & Always” (May 9, 2020) is now included in my new poetry collection Within the Trifles published by Kelsay Books on November 24, 2025. Copies of the … Continue reading Poetry Collection Announcement
12 Days of the Holidays: “The Card” by Denise Diehl
It was after midnight and very dark. In the low light, no one on the quiet, well-groomed cul-de-sac saw the giant shadow stop before number three and hover at its letterbox because the neighbours were all sleeping in their beds. The apparition was a huge man dressed in the attire of a Viking from a … Continue reading 12 Days of the Holidays: “The Card” by Denise Diehl
12 Days of the Holidays: “Closing Up, Wrapping Down” by Scott Tierney
Superstore, closing time, 'tis the night of Christmas, all that– And already my colleagues and I are taking down the decorations. Lead has been stripped from church roofs with more decency. Yep... Nothing gets one revelling in the Yuletide spirit like an army of disgruntled shelf-stackers laying waste to the season's culmination before it has … Continue reading 12 Days of the Holidays: “Closing Up, Wrapping Down” by Scott Tierney
12 Days of the Holidays: “Christmas in Venice” by Benedicte Grima
The sirens began sounding at midnight, and then again at 6AM. I was in Venice, where my aunt Adelaide – aka Tadé - had invited me to spend Christmas with her and her Venetian friends. It had snowed heavily the previous day, so that San Marco’s Square was thickly carpeted, as were the red tile … Continue reading 12 Days of the Holidays: “Christmas in Venice” by Benedicte Grima
12 Days of the Holidays: “A wish for when I realize what matters” by Rachel Cheng
One day I’d like to settle down with a nice little boy in a nice little town We’d have 2 kids an old house by the sea two dogsone for him, and one for me He’d make me breakfast in bed we’d kiss when the kids aren’t looking And every christmas we’d put up a … Continue reading 12 Days of the Holidays: “A wish for when I realize what matters” by Rachel Cheng
12 Days of the Holidays: “Joy at their Shepherd’s Feet” by Douglas J. Lanzo
It was sheer joy of shepherds,that warmed the country night —after the song of angels,dispelled them of their fright.By starlight led to manger,to baby tucked in hay — by sheep and livestock pastures,they humbly made their way;to gaze upon a baby,swaddled in peasant clothes — who wakened to their voices,as mother Mary rose; to greet … Continue reading 12 Days of the Holidays: “Joy at their Shepherd’s Feet” by Douglas J. Lanzo
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