By Ta-Leah McMullen
The Step-Mother
By Ann Christine Tabaka Madalyn did not like having to be alone with her step-mother all the time. She was irked with her father for having to travel far away from home for work so often. Her step-mother was not mean or cruel like the evil step-mother in the stories that she read, like Cinderella. … Continue reading The Step-Mother
Holesome Dough (A Song by the Pharaoh’s Maestro, D’oh-Raymese) and Other Poems
By Ken Gosse Holesome Dough (A Song by the Pharaoh's Maestro, D’oh-Raymese) Doughnuts are our favorite bread, rainy days or in sunshine. Meaningfully, each kid pled, “Father, tell him this one’s mine!” Soulful eyes are watching you; lots of begging while they chew; teasing you to give them two, ’cause they can’t live without dough, … Continue reading Holesome Dough (A Song by the Pharaoh’s Maestro, D’oh-Raymese) and Other Poems
A Tall Tower to Sleep In
By W. T. Paterson Jeremy felt like an out-of-place monster sitting in the line of cars to pick up his twelve-year-old daughter Emilia from an all-women’s coding camp. Tech giant ByteSyze hosted an eight-week summer program for young women interested in STEM careers, the final week of which happened to coincide with the one-year anniversary … Continue reading A Tall Tower to Sleep In
Ancient Grains and Other Poems
By Robert Beveridge Ancient Grains Tra, tra, tra, it’s in the pretext, in the mines, in the hallway that extends every time you kiss the hem of the alienist’s patchwork suit. The meme replicates in the medulla, the batteries poke their heads out of the sand, the wormwood’s in the rice again, pa, chase it … Continue reading Ancient Grains and Other Poems
Fives Ways to Ruin Bacon
By Richard LeDue I I was love starved, hungry for a touch without realizing at first that my hands can also burn bacon and still expect you to eat it. II These days, they say pigs are too smart to eat, yet that doesn't stop the grocery stores from selling bacon at half price to … Continue reading Fives Ways to Ruin Bacon
Peaches and Other Poems
By Robert Ronnow Peaches Wherever peaches grow I go and pick ‘em. When they get ripe I try and swipe ‘em. The farmer runs out with a shotgun and wonders where’s the varmint gone? I’m hiding by the railroad tracks stacking the peaches I’ve found. Then a freight train about a mile long rolls by … Continue reading Peaches and Other Poems
Swaddling and Other Poems
By Stephen Kingsnorth Swaddling It was summer when she passed - we knew come spring she would not last. But as fresh buds broke from dead wood, the tree stump bark cork cambium erupted, unexpected growth, we set our minds to recreate, wrapped in those tie-dyes, student years, free spirited, our crazy route - wherever … Continue reading Swaddling and Other Poems
Tomiko Takes the Train
By Steve Carr Tomiko’s joints ached, especially her knees. She gingerly raised the hem of her kimono and stared at them for several moments as if seeing them for the first time. Nothing seemed to ever make them feel better for very long. Acupuncture, hot baths, daily swims, herbal teas, massage, the small white pills … Continue reading Tomiko Takes the Train
Upheld and Other Works
By Alex Andy Phuong Upheld Do more than uphold Have the head held up high, and Be honestly bold Angle Newfound perspective Relatively relative A new point of view The Good Choice Negative antagonists Will always go against Positive protagonists But there is no shame in being good Because sometimes good things Are truly evil … Continue reading Upheld and Other Works
Academy of the Heart And Mind 