By Sunil Sharma A rose blooms on a dump in Delhi It sways in the morning wind the way drunk girls sway and swear on the predatory Indian streets and restricted cultural zones to express happiness and freedom from stifling familial and patriarchal constraints In Mumbai and other metros on long Saturday nights. The morning light plays on the petals and … Continue reading A rose and waste picker
I Close My Eyes
By Ahmad Al-khatat I close my eyes when I died in your arrival more than twice waiting for the sunshine to taste one hard candy A few bitter sips melting & dripping rare honey my mind takes me to the other side of silence where a lips kiss is a thicker bite on the tongue … Continue reading I Close My Eyes
The Other Side of Namelessness
By Peter Magliocco Neon signs don't color any young brothers on the Strip tonight sweltering nearby electric pods a flesh currency multiplies in seized numbers of identity as hell's jackpot awaits. Always the wandering detritus populating the streets in trashy voluminous splendor tarnished by life's imprint, we sidle across it all to reach the … Continue reading The Other Side of Namelessness
Gone But Not Forgotten
By: Kelli J Gavin She has asked me. Asked me to bring her with me. To bring her somewhere new. Somewhere important. Important and meaningful. Meaningful because I love it. Love it because of memories. Memories of days gone by. Gone by not forgotten. Never able to forget. Only able to cherish. Cherish … Continue reading Gone But Not Forgotten
Poems Rizwan Saleem
The island of shattered dreams The ebbs and flows Cold winter winds blow Across the oceanic world No land to see, nor harbors to call The loud silence of doomed souls Black gulls take to air Round and round they fly in evil circumambulations No sound through truculent clouds Of promised rain and … Continue reading Poems Rizwan Saleem
Summer Contest Honorable Mentions
"Days of the Dragonfly" by Feby Joseph, "Summertime" by Rie Sheridan Rose, and "Boardwalk, Estival Solstice" by Gary Glauber. Boardwalk, Estival Solstice Gary Glauber Fragrant silence of lily of the valley’s luster caught in lambent light of dying sunset signals certitude of seasonal change. Summer arrives, all sullen vigor descending, eager to vent shirtless … Continue reading Summer Contest Honorable Mentions
Summer Contest Poetry 3rd Place
Summer’s End; Autumn Prelude Alisdair L R I Hodgson What should be a scent on the breeze is nothing but a bluebottle on the wing; a moment of abstract connection in an otherwise secluded surrounding with that breeze surrounding me, my skin, hairs on end, drawing out the bumps and chasing the dying heat to … Continue reading Summer Contest Poetry 3rd Place
Summer Contest Poetry 2nd Place
South Carolina Apollo By Kelli Allen We know for certain that cobblestones accept heat whether we gallop toward the hut or not. Loving a woman means dying every day, too, and one season begs another to wait just long enough for us to feast ahead of any funeral. When the Chinese man asks where … Continue reading Summer Contest Poetry 2nd Place
Summer Contest Poetry First Place
Fireflies & Hand Grenades By Jared Benjamin I couldn't assemble enough catharsis from the depths of burning dictionaries as I confess my disappointment making bonfires from the dead language tattooed on ripped out pages all I can do is gaze up at the night sky as it once again plays me for a … Continue reading Summer Contest Poetry First Place
ALLTHERAGE
BY: Kelli J Gavin FULLOFIT ME IAMFULLOFIT RAGETHATIS IDIDNOTKNOW UNTILHESAID YOUAREFULLOFIT FROMHEADTOTOE FULLOFFEAR FULLOFREGRET FULLOFJEALOUSY FULLOFRAGE FULLOFIT ME NOTPOPULAR NOTSOMETHINGCOOL NOTTHEINCROWD JUSTTHEPOSSESSOR IKEEPITALL ALLTHERAGE IAMFULLOFIT IAMGIVINGITBACK IDONOTWANTIT RAGEISNOTFORME NOTNEEDED DOESNOTHINGFORME MAKESMESICK ADDSLINESTOMYEYES ALLTHATRAGE GIFTEDTOME FORTHEASKING ALLTHATRAGE COULDHAVERUINEDME RIDDINGMYSELFTODAY NOLONGERFULLOFIT Bio- Kelli Gavin lives in Carver, Minnesota with Josh, … Continue reading ALLTHERAGE
Academy of the Heart And Mind 