By Sheena Patel A poisoned mindlike a bad appleappearing shiny and newand taking up a seat at the table.Seemingly innocuous, butsecretly dressed in a stormits venom and toxinsseeping from its core.Sitting in the bowlwith all the other good applespretending to be something it’s not,something it will never be.Its seeds and stema virulent cocktaildisguised, incongruous so … Continue reading one rotten apple, Golden Delicious
Getting Better
By Sophia Williams “Good morning, Via.” “Good morning, Doctor Molloy.” “So, Via, how are you feeling today?” “I’m feeling the same as yesterday, and the same as the day before that, and the day before that. It’s always the same feeling every day—it never changes.” “Okay, I hear you. And how does that make you … Continue reading Getting Better
One passing wasp
By Douglas J. Lanzo Based on the account of a close friend He stood atop a hillhe had been climbingwhen he felt chest painand panted just to breathe,staring blankly ahead,unsure of whether these were his last moments…A rabbit hopped closer —gazing up at his eyes,as its nose crinkled,sensing something was wrong.Time seemed to slow and … Continue reading One passing wasp
J
By Sweta Raghav I woke up late todayI woke to the sound of your voice.Sometimes, so it happens,Foreign fingers creep up to me,Uninvited,And do not let me breathe.My mind weaves dreams.It hides knives in them. Slow poison runs in the cracks of my skin,I am made prisoner within myself.But your voice was there today,Slowly loosening … Continue reading J
Untitled Photography
By Andy Graber Andy is a self taught visual artist who tries to create his own unique style. Besides creating artwork, he likes to learn different languages and enjoys singing.
The Pinny
By Myra Lee Virgil It is a brisk October day in 2024. I am perched on one of four vibrant blue Adirondack chairs made of reclaimed plastic; robust, durable, and heavy, all facing a patch of Grape Bay Beach. The waves of Bermuda’s South Shore at this stretch of the beach pounce to the shoreline. … Continue reading The Pinny
Spring Contest Poetry Co-Winner: “Jasmine Star” by Stephen Kingsnorth
I’m weary with this blanket wrapof fog or snow, ground war dead clogged,but then remember under feetthose sacrifices, autumn spread,the fallen as of golden youth,with winter hopes yet stratified’mongst mycorrhiza, worldwide web,while greys and browns are all around.Think aconite, hellebore,those lightning stars of yellow striketo break monotony of rimethat seals the prevalence of death.How dare … Continue reading Spring Contest Poetry Co-Winner: “Jasmine Star” by Stephen Kingsnorth
Spring Contest Fiction Winner: “Solar Life” by Gail Brown
Sunlight peeked over the horizon. Elanora pushed the woven grass curtain back. No need to call Traden or Shadel from onvine chatting with distant friends. The weather forecast for today was bright sunshine for a full eight hours. She tapped her final vine mail of the night. The vine quivered as the message shifted off … Continue reading Spring Contest Fiction Winner: “Solar Life” by Gail Brown
Spring Competition Poetry Co-Winner: “Spring’s Maestro” by Vanaja Malathy
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
Academy of the Heart And Mind 