By Lynette Murry Christmas Is Vastly Different Christmas is vastly different, since you’re not here A somber season, no laughter or holiday cheer Our lives are shattered, nothing’s the same Memories recalled, with the mention of your name Thanksgiving was difficult, but that’s just the start An empty chair in remembrance of you, broke my … Continue reading A Sampling of What’s to Come
The Baker
By Zenstateofmind Jewel despised the free lunch. She’d rather starve than beg for cakes. It took her aging nights and sweating feet, to own a bakery. She was told plenty of times “you’re too ambitious for a woman.” And her answer always remains “I can’t live in the shells and shadows some women I know, live … Continue reading The Baker
Tarzan for a Day and Other Poems
By Ken Gosse Tarzan For a Day Way back in the day, in nineteen twenty-six, when kids preferred picnics to hickory sticks (like we did in our days, and our kids’, and theirs, too, for being outdoors offers so much to do), one morning arose a surprise so exciting the boys would behave for a … Continue reading Tarzan for a Day and Other Poems
Goggles and Other Poems
By Alex Andy Phuong Goggles Different from An online search engine. Seeing underwater, And experiencing The aquamarine. Life under the sea Is more than a dream. The heart of the ocean Potentially connects With the soul, And as the world remains whole, Changing perspectives Could cause people To see beyond the retrospective, And have the … Continue reading Goggles and Other Poems
The Birds and the Bees
By Dan Brook Bob technically lived alone, but that was not at all how he felt about it. Besides Bob’s two pet rabbits, whom he called Donald and Watson, Bob had a thriving garden in his backyard in Sequim — which rhymes with Swim — a little blue hole of sunny Mediterranean microclimate in Washington … Continue reading The Birds and the Bees
Tuner: for Qi Hong and Other Poems
By Yuan Changming Tuner: for Qi Hong While still in Mayuhe on the other Side of this world, you somehow gave me An air-tuner, supposedly to help me Learn erhu, the violin with only two strings As a re-educated youth during the Cultural Revolution, which you somehow asked me To return to you before I … Continue reading Tuner: for Qi Hong and Other Poems
My Budget as a Jesus’ Replica
By Solahudeen Ridwanullah O. Dear moon, Hear, this silent echo is my budget Anytime you wish to break into those strange homes Through any shattered wall Like a thief in the night Take me along Let me be your light That I may rob the night of its darkness For the chicks who'd want to … Continue reading My Budget as a Jesus’ Replica
The Room
By Joan Hyams Schmitz It’s been a calendar full of days since the boy entered the room, dumping his backpack on the floor as he flopped onto his bed for a power nap. This brief, impromptu trip home served one purpose—a quick trip to the dentist to repair a chipped tooth. Once the incisor was … Continue reading The Room
1962 Sky Blue Chrysler and Other Poems
By Phil Flott 1962 Sky Blue Chrysler On my beautiful Chrysler, already so old fender rust was appearing. Its frame aimed slightly up like a jet on the brink of taking off. Comfortable, large seats, power steering for the big wheel and God’s plenty for space. As I was pulling out the GEM store parking … Continue reading 1962 Sky Blue Chrysler and Other Poems
Nightmares and the Monsters that Breed Them
By Susan L. League Dreams have always been a part of my life, especially recurrent, other-worldly nightmares. My imagination was and still is that of a child. Born and raised in the deep south by an unusual mother, who was schizophrenic, undiagnosed, and untreated, so everything was real to her. There were aliens, who planted … Continue reading Nightmares and the Monsters that Breed Them
Academy of the Heart And Mind 