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
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
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
J
By Sweta Raghav I woke up late todayI woke to the sound of your voice.Sometimes, so it happens,Foreign fingers creep up to me,Uninvited,And do not let me breathe.My mind weaves dreams.It hides knives in them. Slow poison runs in the cracks of my skin,I am made prisoner within myself.But your voice was there today,Slowly loosening … Continue reading J
Spring Contest Poetry Co-Winner: “Jasmine Star” by Stephen Kingsnorth
I’m weary with this blanket wrapof fog or snow, ground war dead clogged,but then remember under feetthose sacrifices, autumn spread,the fallen as of golden youth,with winter hopes yet stratified’mongst mycorrhiza, worldwide web,while greys and browns are all around.Think aconite, hellebore,those lightning stars of yellow striketo break monotony of rimethat seals the prevalence of death.How dare … Continue reading Spring Contest Poetry Co-Winner: “Jasmine Star” by Stephen Kingsnorth
Spring Competition Poetry Co-Winner: “Spring’s Maestro” by Vanaja Malathy
On a pleasant spring daya little brown bird appearedfrom behind the green leafy screen reddish tail of rusty tone, brown chest and belly white-gray throat…the colors adding neither beauty nor glamor the unassuming bird perched unnoticed on the central branchthe bird spread its wings a littleclosed its eyes in meditationits throat swelled the deep breath … Continue reading Spring Competition Poetry Co-Winner: “Spring’s Maestro” by Vanaja Malathy
The Divine Comedy in Three Volumes
By Guillermo Bowie And Dante Alighieri only capturedThree levels within human fateAnd it isn’t exactly explainedWhere I was when the good senator exited this lifeThe senator of senatorsArchitect of the westernDirector of the peopleThe human eclipse Vicente FernandezHe was always capturing the people’s imaginationAnd he extended completely to the depthsJust as Dante Alighieri had handled … Continue reading The Divine Comedy in Three Volumes
Oh What A Tree
By Charles C Gaines The north wind blew hard and cold, screaming over the mountains, swirling through the hills outside Denver. Hardwoods and evergreenswalled the backyard of the farmhouse,sentinels lined against the frosty fence rails.Sworn allies, standing tall, no doubtthat together they could ever fail.Massive spruce, dusted by the first snow.Tall maples, bereft of leaves, … Continue reading Oh What A Tree
Distance
By Paul O. Jenkins In this photograph,Taken from a respectful distance,I see my sister kneelBeside the horse16 hands high,Now unable to riseFrom the pasture floorAnd I wonder at the love On displayAnd the steady handOf my brother-in-law,Centering the shot,And the knowledgeThat I will never so loveOr be so steady myself. Paul O. Jenkins aims to … Continue reading Distance
Academy of the Heart And Mind 