By William Hardy I’d wake up at all hours of the night at this time of the year. Usually, my phone’s lock-screen would read one or two am, but I knew if it was any later, I could kiss goodbye to waking up early. I’d ever so slightly pull the curtains back and take a … Continue reading In autumn, there’s no traffic outside
Gatherers
By Paulette Calasibetta I combmoats ofcrumbling fortresses gathering sea glass,opaque – beryltreasures. I hear thevociferouslaughter of children exploring frothybarnacled jettiessearching briny treasuresfilling bucketsof show and tell. overhead ~screeching gullsin nomadic rhythm pluck outofferingsspawnedby the sea. Paulette Calasibetta writes to express what is seen and what is unseen. Inspired by nature, and the spirit of the human … Continue reading Gatherers
Storms and Boats
By Ashwini Bhat We hear about the storms,Then, we talk about the boats.How, not all our storms are the same,But neither are our boats.Then when Monday hits,All is forgotten.The philosophy of the storms, The analogy of the boats.Lost in the rush-hour traffic,In the windowless cubicles,In the goal-less meetings,In the soul-less monitors,Buried in endless numbers, muffled … Continue reading Storms and Boats
The Tide
By Pauline Olthof-Youn The tide, in and outLike a beating heart pumpingIn rhythm, with you Pauline Olthof-Youn is an English teacher for at risk students who enjoys writing poems in her free time. This year she challenged herself by participating in the 12 hour poetry marathon. She also loves spending time with her family travelling … Continue reading The Tide
Early Morning Stillness
By Brenda Mox As fortune passed its meridian,the moon shut herselfwithin her chamber,girdling the great hill hollowwhere greenness grew over brown bedsrich in verdure shadows,giving force and fixednessto new impressions.From a cerulean skyuniformly clear of cloudsor evil feeling,the sun drank dew dropsfrom light illumined orchard treeswhile early morning stillnessslumbered everywhere. Brenda Mox is a poet … Continue reading Early Morning Stillness
On the night I had hot dogs and baked beans for dinner
By Susan Kolon Previously published in Gnashing Teeth Publishing's September 2024 issue It was your birthday, little sister. You got a new bike, sheened in lustful boysenberry, tassels hanging from sky-high handlebarsand I was jealous. You let me boss you when we played, I had tobeat you, always. One night I staged a race, hurried … Continue reading On the night I had hot dogs and baked beans for dinner
Seasons of Change
By Casper Orr Cycles encapsulate a multitude of things;the seasons, circles of the lives of monarchs,and my unstable self-image,ever-changing with the yellow leaves in autumn.Cycles bring change.If the whisper of it from past my shoulder did not paralyze me,I’d be in several different places at once, scattered in winter squalls.Change surges waves of intrusions into … Continue reading Seasons of Change
Ben Alone
By Detlef Wieck Ben stood in the middle of the floor, looking at the layers of newspaper he had put there to block the cold drafts that were coming up through the cracks between the rough, worn, boards of the floor. Although the majestic cook range was burning with the draft all the way open, … Continue reading Ben Alone
Dawn
By Kal Stein Soft light under gray skiesA gentle rain fallingThe quiet sound of waterWashing the grass and stonesSoothing my soulThey are all asleepWarm under the coversStill dreaming, wrapped in memoriesAs the morning beginsWaiting for no onePossibilities aboundTo be seizedThis day will not happen again Kal Stein resumed writing poetry after retiring from a lifetime … Continue reading Dawn
My mind is like the ocean
By Angie Matthew endless crashes gallons and gallons of my own conceptions and convictions slam against the shore feeling no mercy as rocks and shells are unwillingly bombarded tumbled through the wave they find peace among the sand. feeling no mercy as dread and shame unwillingly surface tumbled through my spirit I find peace among … Continue reading My mind is like the ocean
Academy of the Heart And Mind 