By Jim Bates I always wanted to be an airline pilot. My dad was one. My grandfather, too. The fact that both were killed in airplane crashes did not deter my enthusiasm. "I don’t get it, Jerry,” Mom wondered out loud when I was ten years old and told her of my dream. “Why would … Continue reading Vanadium
The Young Soldier – Aged by War
By Felicita “Terry” Robinson Fresh out of college is someone’s son or brother Maybe a kid searching for good and encouraged by his mother Or perhaps a teacher, a dropout or a taxi driver All now standing on the threshold of war, as a survivor And faced with a mission larger than life To kill … Continue reading The Young Soldier – Aged by War
More Than Ever and Other Works
By Alex Andy Phuong More Than Ever Now more than ever We must all stand together For humanity Unite and Fight Unification Hope has never disappeared Do more than believe Housing Statement Housing is essential for life because people need a roof over their heads to survive. Afterall, all people are animals by default. Please … Continue reading More Than Ever and Other Works
Where Old Men Plant Trees and Likingthrope
By Tani Law Rey Where Old Men Plant Trees My foreshortened - scraped twig - twisted root - sub-prime - sub-man stick-figure arms - flail concentric - like the Dow - in rotorcraft whorls - Whirling from the black smoke - older than my forest - more of a plantation - I would take off … Continue reading Where Old Men Plant Trees and Likingthrope
She Smiled
By Nancy Machlis Rechtman Her heart pounded against the walls of her chest, echoing throughout her body. Her head was filled with the staccato of snare drums. Clara looked down at her hands. Her hands - the one gift that couldn’t be taken away from her. Her hands - the hands that were about to … Continue reading She Smiled
Angel’s Camp
By Tamara Adelman It was the nineteenth year of the annual race and free beer would be provided at the barbecue, so the next morning, I went to view the race site. I rode my bike and ran a little while I waited for the ranger station to open. There’d been no map of the … Continue reading Angel’s Camp
Spirits, Bound
By Mike Turner A rustling breeze Blows ‘cross my mind And whispers of your name As flowers’ petals spread to sun Your memory I reclaim Raindrops, gentle Lightly fall Caressing, as your kiss While verdant leaves cast shadows, long Enveloping me with bliss Though time may pass And worlds may turn Through all I comprehend … Continue reading Spirits, Bound
A Summer Awakening
By Nandhini Natarajan I was deleting all Facebook requests when a name suddenly caught and held me. From thirty-five years ago and ten thousand miles away. I was about to click it open, but my fingers stilled. I didn’t want to see the years on him, didn’t want to bring him into the present. I … Continue reading A Summer Awakening
Blazing
By Ian Copestick Daffodils, daisies, and dandelions, the colours yellow and white blazing against the green background, even when wet, and rained upon is a sight that gladdens my heart. After months of skeletal naked trees, and muddy churned up grass that looks like the Somme, to see colours other than grey and green, the … Continue reading Blazing
Help
By Ranjit Kulkarni On a normal working day, Robin Warne would be in some corporate meeting this time in the afternoon. But today was a light afternoon at work, to his delight. So he sat at his desk staring at the laptop screen, pretending to be busy. At his level in the company, he couldn't … Continue reading Help
Academy of the Heart And Mind 