By Claire L Frankel I want to make a paintingof the New York State Thruway.But you can’t stop and take a photounless you want a big crashand goodbye car, if not goodbye you.So it has to be from memoryThe full trees of Summer laden with millions of dark green leaves.The spectacular autumn red gold, orange … Continue reading New York State Thruway
How foreign, that the soul by which I breathe
By Scott Andrew Kass How foreign, that the soul by which I breathe,And have since, like the closing of a flower,To shield the bud, my flesh had made its sheath,Rejects its purpose; so Divine a power,Shriveled to waste, as if in refuse strewn,It shivered at the passing traffic's chill,At ends of alleys, deepened 'neath the … Continue reading How foreign, that the soul by which I breathe
Self-Assurance
By Andria Simmons Self- assurance Is an unbreakable Spirit. When you are self assured, you have confidence, you are loving, you are compassionate, and you care for others. Self assurance places no desire to hate, envy, compete, destroy, or sabotage another. When you know your own value you vibrate on a higher level. Other people’s … Continue reading Self-Assurance
12 Days of the Holidays: “New Year’s Resolution” by D.R. James
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
Academy of the Heart And Mind 