By Casey Shelley Ajar Entwined, a bond you cannot break: maternal. Together, she would say there’s always a way. There wasn’t. I knew, at nineteen, nothing but latex and IV’s. The smell of it: spreading. Appointed to watch while light decayed to dark. It happened and I held my life in a jar of ashes. … Continue reading Ajar & Of Love Poems
Danae Younge’s Chapbook “Melanin Sun (–) Blind Spots” Awarded the Florence Kahn Memorial Award
Former contributor Danae Younge's poetry chapbook, Melanin Sun (–) Blind Spots, was given the Florence Kahn Memorial Award by the National Federation of State Poetry Societies and will be published as a print book on July 1st! NFSPS is a conglomerate of the state poetry societies involved in the institution of Poet Laureate, and they host what are considered … Continue reading Danae Younge’s Chapbook “Melanin Sun (–) Blind Spots” Awarded the Florence Kahn Memorial Award
My Brother’s Books
By Mary Kathleen Felice my brother’s books are old with dusty jackets and torn covers yellow edged and sepia toned pages many dangling from broken spines as are we worn and aged through time as was he until his passing on the most recent of Mothers’ Days the heavenly reunion of which I’m sure brought … Continue reading My Brother’s Books
For Stephanie
By Lamont A. Turner My darling Stephanie, you were so young And possessed with a grace unmatched in all The poet’s lore and songs of love once sung By kind Euterpe who would enthrall The lost and lonely in unending nights Of tempestuous, impassioned delights. I belonged to you from the moment you Kissed my … Continue reading For Stephanie
Carnival 2020 and Other Poems
By Fabrice Poussin Carnival 2020 Mardi-Gras in April extending those days of glee when revelers saunter the avenues seeking another merry melody. Yet they lack the luster of old hiding in shame behind blue fabric they wish they might breathe inhale forgiveness in the shadows. Stumbling in fear of the unseen they stare at their … Continue reading Carnival 2020 and Other Poems
Dante’s Circles
By Marc Carver It scares me how much life goes around and around in a circle. You live it once then years later the exact same thing happens again. And you react to it in exactly the same way. It is almost as if you are powerless against yourself. Who you are never goes away. … Continue reading Dante’s Circles
showdown and tabula rasa
By RC deWinter showdown lucky in card unlucky in love so old cardsharks say the inverse isn't true i play the hands i'm dealt eights and aces at the table and in love so ante up you brash bold gamblers i'll raise you every time i’m the great dissembler prepare to lose your shirts my … Continue reading showdown and tabula rasa
Blessings Come in Many Forms
By Leslee W. Kahler My husband and I had been married for about two years when Nekko came into our lives. I was visiting friends when on the way back to my car I spotted a small black and gray cat stuck in a tree. I climbed the tree part way and managed to coax … Continue reading Blessings Come in Many Forms
The Forgotten People and In Solidarity With You
By Denis O'Sullivan The Forgotten People As women and children flee from war and violence as quickly as they can and just can't take anymore of it which is caused by man Why should they suffer from this conflict leaving father's and sons behind so that they can fight for their country and might never … Continue reading The Forgotten People and In Solidarity With You
SHE: An International Women’s Day Write-up
By Mehreen Ahmed Editor's Note: International Women's Day is celebrated on March 8th each year. Mehreen Ahmed wrote this essay on International Women's Day 2022. When God created Eve, he had created not a companion, but a woman of power. One who would be instrumental to the creation of human history. Her act, a single … Continue reading SHE: An International Women’s Day Write-up
Academy of the Heart And Mind 