By Jennifer Leigh Kiefer I wasn’t drunk. That’s the truth. I never am though, so I knew you wouldn’t realize I was faking. The half a bottle I had slowly sipped was just an excuse. Something I could blame – we both could blame. As I wandered away from the group huddled on the large … Continue reading I Wasn’t Drunk
Devlin’s Wife
By Lamont A. Turner Above two graves there stands a stone, proud with cross engraved, reared to praise the love that shone, while hiding love enslaved; for near it lays a lonely stone, cracked and worn and leaning, where sleeps the wife of Devlin in darkness blindly weeping: “How well I served the man I … Continue reading Devlin’s Wife
Shallow Pools
By Jack S. Pale in the moonlight skin crystal ball you might see through into the emptiness Contained in shallow barrels meant to hold much more than this but she is in there trying to fill- or make the barrels smaller Hardened footsteps a horse stomps through the mud getting stuck pushing, pulling yet standing … Continue reading Shallow Pools
Familiar Surroundings and Other Poems
By John Grey Familiar Surroundings We’re back and everything is how we left it: our feet walk in old footsteps, our hands leave fingerprint where fingerprints already are. We’ve been away some time, a month or more, but the familiar doesn’t change. One room still leads to another. The ceiling is where it’s always been, … Continue reading Familiar Surroundings and Other Poems
Is She Paying Rent?
By Thomas Payne Birgit was arriving on the 8:32 flight from Chicago. Nathan had asked Jon to drive him to DIA, and asked if they could pick up Heather on the way to make it less date-like. I-25 was clear and Jon was trying to keep it under 85. Nathan lit him a cigarette. “She’s … Continue reading Is She Paying Rent?
Boring Maureen and The Scan
By Maureen Barron Boring Maureen When I was small I hated my name why was I called Maureen? I wanted a nice name If I had a nice name not Maureen or Doreen I would be popular at school People with names like Julia Beverly, Fern or Celia had lots of friends and had surnames … Continue reading Boring Maureen and The Scan
Her Presence in the Mist and Reflections of the Wandering Spirit
By Elmedina Hota Her Presence Covered In Mist Originally published in Sanitarium Magazine, issue 42., 2011. Her pallor gleams under the midnight skies, her beauty indescribable, wrapped by the nocturnal mist, on the cold ground she lies, so pure and dreamy, to human's flesh unreachable Devils in orchestra played symphonies of Hell to her, admiring … Continue reading Her Presence in the Mist and Reflections of the Wandering Spirit
The Unjoy of Cooking
By Ashton Cynthia Clarke I don’t remember why Daddy suddenly told me to fix dinner. Making our beds and polishing the wood veneer furniture with Pledge were the only household chores assigned to me and my little brother. Preparing food was strictly Mommy’s job. But where she was, I don’t remember. There was a period … Continue reading The Unjoy of Cooking
Proverbial Puppet
By Tryniti Thresher The real world says I don't know how to be a "real girl". That I own no purpose beyond escaping narcissistic hands dangling me about, and the twisted tiara of servitude laced with a taste of Stockholm Syndrome. Pulling at strings I jerk myself through life one wooden step at a time. … Continue reading Proverbial Puppet
Wabi-Sabi
By Timothy Resau Previously published in The Sparrow's Trombone on November 22, 2021 I am alone. I’m in a most unique hotel room. It’s very modern and sparsely furnished. I believe it’s a hotel room. I assume it’s a room. I assume it’s a hotel. It’s fun to assume. I’m watching a TV program. I … Continue reading Wabi-Sabi
Academy of the Heart And Mind 