By Seth Sherman “Can we keep him, Daddy? Please? He followed me home from school today and he's so friendly. Look!” I had to admit that he was good looking, and he sure seemed to like Sarah, but...”I don't know, sweetie. I think he's got a tag on him.” “I know, but look how he's … Continue reading Pyramus
A Life of Song and Silence
By Tim Law Previously published in Sweety Cat Press Sasha peered into the stage spotlight, squinting, plagued by an infestation of butterfly nerves. The stool that she sat upon was uncomfortable, one size fits none. The murmurs from the crowded bar were just that little bit too loud. Clutching her guitar like a security blanket … Continue reading A Life of Song and Silence
Wicherek Way
By Callie J. Smith My mother talked to dead people, and I hated her for it. At 10 years old, I remember pressing myself into the wall beside an old rosewood buffet in the family room. It sat by the doorway to the kitchen, where I’d hear my mother talking with her parents as if … Continue reading Wicherek Way
For My Mother
By Okereke Emmanuel Chibuike A woman with fire—not just in her eyes,but in her bones,in every breath she burns for the ones she loves.My mother.My mother, my pride.My lighthouse when the tides got high.She stayed for me—when the world turned cold,when it whispered lies and slammed its doors,she stood,unshaken.No applause, no trophies,just cracked hands and … Continue reading For My Mother
A Panoramic View
By Abe Margel I thought I understood how my family operated, its rules, habits, prejudices, passions. I was wrong. My sister, Nina, was born first so got the larger of the two bedrooms destined for the children. Her room had a big walk-in closet which, as a kid, was a fun place to hide. From … Continue reading A Panoramic View
Five Summer Haiku
By Jim Bates Northern Lights glowingSoft waves shimmering like dreamsWaiting to come true.Morning rain fallingSoggy wet flower headsBend in silent thanks.Early morning lightFlowers nodding in the dawnSerene peaceful calm.Aunt and Uncle's cabinOn a lake overflowingWith good memories.Thankful for flowersTheir color so enrichingTheir beauty such joy. Jim lives in a small-town twenty miles west of Minneapolis, … Continue reading Five Summer Haiku
Those Goldbergs
By Charlotte Pregnolato The first thing I saw was the gleaming chrome grin twinkling down the street, followed by the biggest car I'd ever seen. When the grinning monster turned into our driveway, I stopped twirling my hips, and my hula-hoop clattered to the ground. Daddy got out with a grin almost as big as … Continue reading Those Goldbergs
Where the doves come to cry
By Oceanika Pandey They said, “We fight to end the fight,” To make the dawn outshine the night, They sent the ones with steady hands, To bleed upon foreign lands; But have you forgotten that they are too the children of mothers who never knew that peace is but a mere facade, Built on graves … Continue reading Where the doves come to cry
Escaping the Shell
By Destiny Hankerson Aretha walked down the shady pathway, right next to the park. As her Black hair blew in the wind, she smiled, feeling the sun rays against her face. It was a brand new morning, and Aretha felt blessed to experience it. Today, she was heading to the audition for her part in … Continue reading Escaping the Shell
Gathering Embers
By Langutani n'wa Vahlengwe I collect pieces left behind, in eerie walls where shadows alignA dim glow guides me through the darkI collect debris of shattered dreams, what’s been lostIlluminate the faint fallacies that haunt us stillIn far-off lands, where frozen hearts and minds clutch tightThe weight of war and legacy of painI gather and … Continue reading Gathering Embers
Academy of the Heart And Mind 