By Jelizza G. Lupi Jelizza G. Lupi enjoys painting in her free time and aims to explore the complexities of human emotion. Based in Vancouver, WA, she draws inspiration from personal experiences and the dynamic of relationships. "Love's Flickering Flame" is a testament to her artistic vision, capturing the delicate balance of love's vulnerability in a world … Continue reading Love’s Flickering Flame
A Trip Down Slip Hill
By Reina Howard From the time Malcolm Sandoval was four and his mother warned him off the neighbors trampoline, he hated being told what to do. Which is why, against the strict instructions of his uncle, he was going to race his cousin Ben down Slip Hill. The forbidden hill lay to the east of … Continue reading A Trip Down Slip Hill
The Penance
By Aykut Tufekli After Jesus Christ was crucified, things started to change between good and evil. Satan took this as an opportunity and tried to distance people from Christianity and other religions at every opportunity. The archangel and his companions were the last servants of God. The peace in the world was not stable. Satan … Continue reading The Penance
Far from Perfect
By Emily Wahl The ax fell. She was expecting it, but it still hurt. “Why me?” was her first thought. She had gotten her hopes up, only to have them dashed. She tried to put a brave face on it, but she was in shock. Combined with lack of sleep and a mild hangover, her … Continue reading Far from Perfect
Anthem
By Ryder Smith An Aromantic Love Story Told Out of Order for Dramatic Effect September I’ve never experienced a love like this before. His perfectly tamed, flowing brunette hair. His round, almost frameless golden glasses signifying that he’s clearly queer. I have no idea what his relationship history is, but that’s not important; I know. … Continue reading Anthem
Losing #30
By Lee Ann Stevens I lost my first body part soon after I turned 70, a milestone that made it hard for me to deny the advancing years. It was number 30, a six-year molar, which means it had been in my mouth since first grade, when I had just learned to read and still … Continue reading Losing #30
Puzzle
By S. G. Dorrity Emptied out, Falling into each other, stumbling and grasping for something to hold,We were lost and missing a few,Struggling to make that complete picture advertised on the box. Coming together, grouped and joined, It all started to become more recognisable, A vague shape in the clouds, comparable to the animals of … Continue reading Puzzle
so i’m supposed to be writing a poem
By Joy Jia so I’m supposed to be writing a poem. I’m supposed to be writing a poem but what I’m actually doing is putting italics on words to pad out the line count, because that’s what I’m really good at, at the end of the day. Padding things out, I mean. Scraping by. Making … Continue reading so i’m supposed to be writing a poem
The Gravestone
By Lewis Brett Smiler Dan could not believe how much clutter his Aunt Sarah had left behind. She was such a hoarder. The number of books she had collected was probably more than the local library. Dan wondered how many of these books were still in print. Would he be able to sell them for … Continue reading The Gravestone
Love Song Competition Poetry Co-Winner: “Learning to Love in Another Language” by Haley DiRenzo
Once you’ve mastered introductions,directions, small talk conversations about family and weekend plansOnce certain sentences form themselves with ease, skipping the stop between head and mouth Then how do you describe your heartbeat in another country? Dreams that weave in and outtangled in two different tongues? How do you say, I want to trace the freckles … Continue reading Love Song Competition Poetry Co-Winner: “Learning to Love in Another Language” by Haley DiRenzo
Academy of the Heart And Mind 