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!
13 Days of Halloween: Flint by William Swanger
I heard something rustle close by, but I was in my invincible teens and so pondered no further whether deer, fox, raccoon or suspicious person was paralleling my course through the cornstalks. Besides, I was on a mission, my hand clutching a bag of flint corn. My friend had brought the corn to our meetup. … Continue reading 13 Days of Halloween: Flint by William Swanger
13 Days of Halloween: Diaphanous Spirit by Mary Steinberg
Diaphanous Spirit Ethereal Sprite Dancing on moonbeams Glossy and bright. Floating by freely Uplifting unwound Drifting and wafting Not making a sound. Spiritual Being Spun-silver delight Diaphanous Spirit Spectacular sight! Vaporous Mystic Incantations surround Swirling and swaying And turning around. Gossamer Traveler Translucence alight Releasing Your magic On Hallow’s Eve Night.
auburn moon
By lilith connor you showed up in the middle of the night,abandoned truck tires on our frozen ground.the scent of ashes in the air, proof we´d forgotten flight,and life and smell and sound.the autumn sky mourning my lost joy,i´ve fallen silent. I´ve fallen further and further awayfrom myself. i fell away from you- toydolls with … Continue reading auburn moon
Making a Difference
By Lewis Brett Smiler Mr. Erdofi could not recall how many millions he had donated over the past twenty years. However, there was no place where his philanthropy was more evident than his hometown. He had been honored numerous times for his local contributions, but not everyone was impressed. Wayne Thompson, an old high school … Continue reading Making a Difference
My Mask and I
By Winnie Louise Sjoquist I’m told that I must open up my heartInstead of keeping it buried down deep The world is loud, selfish, and meanSo it’s easier to put my soul to sleep They say I must speak more cheerfully But they smile with swords in handWeapons garnished with roses But they still all … Continue reading My Mask and I
Strong at the broken places
By Matt Eidson When sleeping in WalMart parking lots got old, I started parking between semis at gas stations. Then one night a trucker with a beer belly and a MAGA hat knocked on my driver side window for five minutes straight. I quietly rolled out of the bunk in the back of the van, … Continue reading Strong at the broken places
Incident at Sam’s Bar
By Lee Ann Stevens Alan started frequenting Sam’s Bar when Joanne was working later than he was, which was most evenings. He liked the vagueness, the privacy in the dimly lit room even when people were speaking to each other. There was comfort in the role he could play there – a stranger relieving the … Continue reading Incident at Sam’s Bar
Buried
By Daniel R. Snyder A few weeks after his father’s funeral, Stephen stripped his room. He took down the posters of his favorite bands and the pictures he’d drawn in art class, removed all his books, and tossed his rock collection into the front garden. Trinkets, toys, games, computer, everything ended up in the trash. … Continue reading Buried
Bowerheart
By Malachy Moran I have prepareda space for youfilled it withpretty thingsshiny rocks andcuttlefish bonesseagull feathersand bits of brickworn flat by the surf.I have carved all the wallswith inscriptionssnippets of vedasrunic spells.I have wafted incensein all the cornersto chase awayany evil spirits.I have turned about in placeover and over and over againto trample flat the … Continue reading Bowerheart
Academy of the Heart And Mind 