By Haeun Kim tick tick tick. the shaman’s mouth steams,lip naked and hot like a teapot handle. sherescues the soul of the drowned, disguisedas byeolsang, spirits of another world. under-water, she swallows the saliva clawing upher throat to join the saltwater. tick tick tick.never let it out. she releases the unjustlydead, souls pouring like liquid. … Continue reading in which poetry is a form of exorcism
Library Collections
By Benedicte Grima When I walk into a house, the first thing my eyes tune into is the presence or absence of books. I am immediately unsettled by the invisible volumes, and the space seems stark, lifeless. When I watch speakers on television talk from their homes and offices, I scour the bookshelves behind them, … Continue reading Library Collections
Foxes
By Alex Carrigan After Ada Limón It took me over three decadesto learn how bad a fox smells.My mother told me that onecame up to her backyard fencerecently while she was playingwith her dog in the yard. Her dog likes to press his one ear against the slats, chew a ball, then drop it down … Continue reading Foxes
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!
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
Academy of the Heart And Mind 