On a pleasant spring daya little brown bird appearedfrom behind the green leafy screen reddish tail of rusty tone, brown chest and belly white-gray throat…the colors adding neither beauty nor glamor the unassuming bird perched unnoticed on the central branchthe bird spread its wings a littleclosed its eyes in meditationits throat swelled the deep breath … Continue reading Spring Competition Poetry Co-Winner: “Spring’s Maestro” by Vanaja Malathy
Winners of the March Contest
Here are the winners of our third 2025 Contest! The dates next to their names will be the day their work will be posted to our website. Note that we have co-winners for our poetry prize because there were no submissions to our Nonfiction pool. 29: Poetry Co-Winner: Vanaja Malathy 30: Fiction Winner: Gail Brown … Continue reading Winners of the March Contest
Him
By Zary Fekete Previously published in Bright Flash Literary Review. He came from nothing. His parents were dead. He grew up on the streets. Now a young man, he stood on the corner day after day, begging. Though he was grimy, he had a fine head of hair and bright eyes. He whispered words of … Continue reading Him
Soulless cars, portable homes
By Milena Filipps Under the influence of time in the shape of years, calendars and sunsets, we learn to believe that every town has a soul. It may be a collective memory, a view, an invention, a dialect, a name or a phantom encompassing a unique structure of history and chaos, care and carelessness, flowers … Continue reading Soulless cars, portable homes
Is Anyone Out There?
By T.W. Crone The boy knocked on the apartment door in the dirty hallway. He wore an orange elementary school hoodie with an owl face on the front. The owl had glasses, which made it look intelligent. He ran his hand through his hair, looked at the peephole, and smiled as slippered feet shuffled inside. … Continue reading Is Anyone Out There?
Incident at Sam’s Bar
By Lee Ann Stevens Alan started frequenting Sam’s Bar when Joanne was working later than he was, which was most evenings. He liked the vagueness, the privacy in the dimly lit room even when people were speaking to each other. There was comfort in the role he could play there – a stranger relieving the … Continue reading Incident at Sam’s Bar
The Blue on her Skates
By Jahnavi Fernandes Beatrice bolted out of the arena, shock and fury engulfing her body. She felt her fingertips turn into cobalt as she stopped to rest, turning strictly away from the blue-eyed boy who had just watched her leave. It was a moment of pure panic, but a satisfying result: she could win. Stumbling … Continue reading The Blue on her Skates
In The Checkout Line
By Julie Potter Being a receipt printer isn’t so bad. Sure, spitting out strips of paper can get tiring, especially when the lines seem never ending and there’s more returning than buying. But it’s fun to see the cashiers work—some of them make the most memorable faces typing in products! And sometimes, I’m the closest … Continue reading In The Checkout Line
The Divine Comedy in Three Volumes
By Guillermo Bowie And Dante Alighieri only capturedThree levels within human fateAnd it isn’t exactly explainedWhere I was when the good senator exited this lifeThe senator of senatorsArchitect of the westernDirector of the peopleThe human eclipse Vicente FernandezHe was always capturing the people’s imaginationAnd he extended completely to the depthsJust as Dante Alighieri had handled … Continue reading The Divine Comedy in Three Volumes
Oh What A Tree
By Charles C Gaines The north wind blew hard and cold, screaming over the mountains, swirling through the hills outside Denver. Hardwoods and evergreenswalled the backyard of the farmhouse,sentinels lined against the frosty fence rails.Sworn allies, standing tall, no doubtthat together they could ever fail.Massive spruce, dusted by the first snow.Tall maples, bereft of leaves, … Continue reading Oh What A Tree
Academy of the Heart And Mind 