By Matthew Lee And again, today, I look, a frenzy, wasted breaths that mouthed civilities and ersatz pastiches of backslapping to elevate the atomic consistency of the air, and remembering that to others, against the vitreous backdrop of the drawing room, we are simply caricatures laying out platitudes to Chet Baker, and Davis now, and … Continue reading Caravaggio
All Alone
By H. L. Dowless All alone, talking to myself. Alone, staring at the walls, ‘tis only me and nobody else. Alone, with my own mixed up thoughts. Alone, with my haunting terror dreams; hearing whispers all about, I must be going mad so it seems. It's only me, seeing what I want to see, reading … Continue reading All Alone
Schism
By Glenn Marchand We seem amiss, afield. I search for keys; in turn, to angle a piano. Something grand; something full of grace. A piano that speaks. I was like a sponge, collecting keys, pausing to whiff the breeze. An inrush of thoughts, feeling musicians—the art, vivacity, and velocity. Over ink spills, plums and pears, … Continue reading Schism
Crown of Madness
By Willow Isobel You say I am too much,A storm ripping through your calm,A flame too wild to tame —But my friends will dance in my fires,Praise the sparks that light the dark.I have no need to be understood,No craving for your approval.It’s a leash that chokes the breath,A weight that sinks the spirit.I am … Continue reading Crown of Madness
My Heart is Soft Again
By Charlotte Bartow Fuchs An old man plays the saxophone,his pruny fingers press on the golden buttonsas the music pulls me deeper into the train stationmy heels clicking on the white tilethe music swirling through my beingI see God when the curtains riseI am the first person up to give a standing ovationmy heart is … Continue reading My Heart is Soft Again
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
Theatrical Residency
By Alex Andy Phuong Focusing on the fundamental Is absolutely essential To living life on Earth,And for what it is worth,The miracle of birthCan give a person a role to playWhile being alive day by day,And come what may,Being the hopeThat shall light the wayCan offer inspiration And a cause for celebration,So remember to pauseDuring … Continue reading Theatrical Residency
one rotten apple, Golden Delicious
By Sheena Patel A poisoned mindlike a bad appleappearing shiny and newand taking up a seat at the table.Seemingly innocuous, butsecretly dressed in a stormits venom and toxinsseeping from its core.Sitting in the bowlwith all the other good applespretending to be something it’s not,something it will never be.Its seeds and stema virulent cocktaildisguised, incongruous so … Continue reading one rotten apple, Golden Delicious
Getting Better
By Sophia Williams “Good morning, Via.” “Good morning, Doctor Molloy.” “So, Via, how are you feeling today?” “I’m feeling the same as yesterday, and the same as the day before that, and the day before that. It’s always the same feeling every day—it never changes.” “Okay, I hear you. And how does that make you … Continue reading Getting Better
One passing wasp
By Douglas J. Lanzo Based on the account of a close friend He stood atop a hillhe had been climbingwhen he felt chest painand panted just to breathe,staring blankly ahead,unsure of whether these were his last moments…A rabbit hopped closer —gazing up at his eyes,as its nose crinkled,sensing something was wrong.Time seemed to slow and … Continue reading One passing wasp
Academy of the Heart And Mind 