By Janet Belding Everyone gets born the same way, the name in the Bible. Well if I was written in there it was lost in the fire. We had no water to put it out and there was wind, no rain. I woke up one day and I was a man with no memories. I … Continue reading Origin
Before Dawn
By Oliver Kleyer Before dawn,I don’t have a name.It normally reappears with the sunrise,preferably on the railroad bridge,overlooking the town where I work,but fortunately, not live,sometimes starting the O,sometimes with the i.Before dawn, you could call me anything,there is a 50/50 chance I might answer.Before dawn, I sometimes think my nameis Adam & there is … Continue reading Before Dawn
Of Poppies and Peaches
By Jessica Ursell in the remotest region of Kyrgyzstana makeshift cribtenderly placedunder a treeits darkly silveredboughslow and ladenwith bountyvast fields of crimson poppiesin the distanceas far as the eye can seeand closerthose velvety softblushing globesof creamy rougedrupesPrunus persicatemptinga tiny totpink chubby armsoutstretchedopen mouthedtwin pearlsframed by rosebud lipsindustriously imprintingher markon all thewarm tawnypeachesshe welcomesinto her crib … Continue reading Of Poppies and Peaches
Gulliver’s Wife
By Lynn White First published in Visual Verse, January 2022 It is not commonly known that Gulliver had a wifebut she accompanied him on all his journeysand Lilliput was her favourite place.Swift never wrote about her.Perhaps he found her just to daring,even though she was careful to be on her best behaviourand hide her painted … Continue reading Gulliver’s Wife
The Market
By Eno Howl Walking through the market,I was eating a pomegranate when we met.You wore last year’s clothes,shoes cut from a stranger’s Coke bottle and string.The clack of plastic on stone,the wet crack of seeds in my teeth.You stopped level with my knee.No money. Only food.They had warned me about boys like you—painted burns,borrowed bandages.I … Continue reading The Market
Without Detection
By Nichole Turnbloom A wooden door, an iron key, a warm egg,a spindle, a basket of treasure. Bodies severed and gathered sing themselves wholeSkulls dressed with jewels watch with flickering eye sockets — burns: two sisters, the wired uncle, the wedding guests. The skull buried in the garden springs forth a rose bush- lest we … Continue reading Without Detection
Morning Glory
By Utkarsh Rawat The Sun does shines yeah, The Towers surpass yeah, That Rainbow does seem just alright ...The Moon looks familiar, Its night adheres,To the memories of the Stars in sight…The Rage turns warm yeah, The Winds still cuff yeah, This Garden resembles like just it was... The Sounds are calling, And Lights are … Continue reading Morning Glory
Toucan Epochs
By Ken Allan Dronsfield A flash of color moves across the emerald canopy.A long beak, like a sunrise, is poised among broad leaves.Eyes alert while surveying the tangled vines of green.Night’s humidity lingers on their glossy clean feathers.They perch on ancient branches, guardians of morning.Cacophony rises—a language unknown to humankind.Beak dips into a cluster of … Continue reading Toucan Epochs
You.
By Yurii Tkachenko I lived in your flat.I wore the second hand.You not my enemy.You are not my brother.And not my friend.You are somebody unknown.You are someone else.Forgive my opinion.And what you expect.I don't mind admitting. That you are better.And share yourself.But stay another.Another one spent.A break the rules better.Than be as well.And free your … Continue reading You.
An Abandoned Carousel
By John Grey I feed the horseswith a handful of invisible hay.And thread their wooden maneswith my toothless comb.“Good boy,” I say as I pat the raised head of the painted stallion.And “Good girl” greets the round green and blue stomach of the mare.I pat the back of the dead operator.I praise the rusted machinery,especially … Continue reading An Abandoned Carousel
Academy of the Heart And Mind 