The camp fire dies down, and so does the conversation. The darkness blacks out the imperfections of the dusty Californian chaparral. Under the Big Tree, four slumped silhouettes sit, dissolving the week’s worries with cold brews. “Woof, woof, woof!” cry chops the stillness, urgency increasing with every bark. “Where’s that dog’s owner?” Maura’s logic becomes … Continue reading November “The Thursdays” Contest: Bronze Winner: “Pets” by Oleg Daugovish
Winners of the November Contest
Here are the winners of our eleventh 2025 Contest! The dates next to their names will be the day their work will be posted to our website. 28: Bronze Winner: Oleg Daugovish 29: Silver Winner: Ken Gosse 30: Gold Winner: Clarence Heller Thank you to everyone who entered into our contest!
Feathery Hope
By Manoela Torres This silly little heartBeats and breaks for youNever learning when to stop Forever figuring what to doWhether you go Whether you stay This heart will grow wideDay after dayLoving and losing Was never the gameA heart doesn't survive on loveIt's feathery hopeThat has us jump off the cliff Flying then fallingAgain and … Continue reading Feathery Hope
“Dear Imposter”
By Luisa Mays I blame youFor the dreams that always sleptAnd for the story never told.I blame you. For the lesson never learned,And the space never filledYouI blame.For the busted something that I never fixed.The memories I never switched.The cobwebs I never cleaned And the hours of sleep I missed.I blame youFor the plans that … Continue reading “Dear Imposter”
Five Fall Colors Haiku
By Jim Bates Sumac leaves changingShades of orange and burgundyColors of pure joy.Gunmetal grey skyBlazing red maples stand proudFall’s splendorous show.Autumn wind blowingGolden leaves racing madlyTrees becoming bare.Along the lakeshoreTrees fiery orange and redAutumnal delight.Man with cameraBlue aster and honeybeeCaptured for all time. Jim lives in a small-town twenty miles west of Minneapolis, Minnesota. His … Continue reading Five Fall Colors Haiku
Blue Heron Lake
By John Ziegler I woke at dawn.Still beneath the musty quiltI cranked the tall window open,smelled the moist air coming off the lake.I stretched and stepped from the bed,put on sneakers and jeans,the green flannel shirt over his white tee shirtand crept down the stairs to avoid waking the adults.I grabbed a muffin and an … Continue reading Blue Heron Lake
July on the Calendar
By Mehtab Singh The house smelled the same as it had when he left it four years ago. He tried to recall his memories there, but all he could remember was his restricted childhood behind those walls. He did not cry when he buried his parents; he thought it was freedom for him. He entered … Continue reading July on the Calendar
The Burden of Integrity, The Cost of Its Absence
By Cora Tate Robyn’s older sister, Elizabeth, lay dying half a world away, in the regional hospital in Sweden where both were born. A tearful telephone conversation ten days earlier told Beth’s sibling doctors estimated Beth had five weeks to live. Despite sibling arguments and rivalry as children, the sisters enjoyed a close relationship from … Continue reading The Burden of Integrity, The Cost of Its Absence
Surrealist Woman
By Brenda Mox Surrealist woman in a serious room,a long bodied, emaciatedModiglianiwatched with great wonder.No tennis playing, surf riding dollof the west was she.Just a bag of bones,a floppy broken stick,a maniac.Her sweet smile glowed in neon rednessyet grew solemn among the flushedfaced fools drunkenness.Tears of sorrow in her brown eyesabsorbed his soul into her … Continue reading Surrealist Woman
Bridge Lessons
By Ben Macnair The inscription reads,To Laura, may the lessons of this bookstand you in good stead, love Dad, Christmas 1985.It is a book of bridge lessons,written before the internet,when mistakes had to be learnt,in the singular.No-one offering advice on a you-tube video,no forums saying what needs to be done, and in what order.The book … Continue reading Bridge Lessons
Academy of the Heart And Mind 