By Soumya Doralli The dam-water brimmed and splashed, on the periphery of the steel-grey reservoir, a frothy bubbling roaring mass, sealing minds and opening hearts, chock-full of buzzing mouths, I pay no heed to the busybodies, to the arms-in-arms, to the tippy taps, eerie funeral songs for the cadaver, unbridled passion to wake the dead, … Continue reading Seen
A Water Song
By Helen Lemus The ocean calls With a song, A piece Of eternity In a lullaby Soothing me to sleep. Cold, clean water, Salty, Slaps my cheeks, And morning Laughs at me Sleeping While there are so many Seeds To plant. Beneath Warm suns, A sonata Props up My sore soul Straight from the ocean's … Continue reading A Water Song
In-Law
By Elizabeth Allison She brought the orchid to the house when I miscarried the second time to let it speak of loss. Her loss. Scarlet droplets spotting pale yellow petals said “You are my chance.” Fat leaves curling into themselves cried “I’ve only one child. I’ve only one shot.” Wide purple lips, open to prey, … Continue reading In-Law
Bitter Experience and Other Poems
By Katherine Orfinger Bitter Experience (for Oates and Chekhov) and I understand now why Anna held herself to a godly standard and why she needed to make those little lines, their lives seeping together my head, a dim bathroom: she paces. my own soul peers through a speckled mirror a forgotten piece of metal glints … Continue reading Bitter Experience and Other Poems
Old McWilliams Had a Dog and Other Poems
By Ken Gosse Old McWilliams Had a Dog a Mixed-Melody Sing-Along Sing the verses to “Old MacDonald” and the alternate refrains to “Bingo Was a Dog” Old McWilliams bought a farm and brought his wife along. They had some children and a dog and loved to sing this song: B–I–N–G–O, E–I–E–I–O, Sing it fast or … Continue reading Old McWilliams Had a Dog and Other Poems
Folder and Veteran
By James Patrick Folder Here, take these, read them, keep them, burn them. I put them by, kept in a folder the verses you passed to me wrapped in a note with instructions trying out your woman’s voice on a man you chose to trust knew from the first I’d need to keep them with … Continue reading Folder and Veteran
Old Covered Bridge
By J. Jacob Grizzle Does that old covered bridge still stand in the place where the old highway used to cross the creek? It's a treasure of time, a place in the heart that reminds us of what we used to be. Can you still hear the train in the distance at night, Does that … Continue reading Old Covered Bridge
Please Put Me in the Sunlight
By De’Anne Roye The top lid holds on tight To the bottom lid And darkness covers my eyes Silence so beautiful Moments without thoughts Meditating, and my mind rests And recharge. The sun rays on my skin Soak so deep in The light permeates my soul Light as a feather Where worries flutter away And … Continue reading Please Put Me in the Sunlight
After Bushfire
By Julie Holland Bushfire came through Evil as devil may be No thing, nor thought, spared Just a trail of black Shapes rising to ether To sapphire sky, to smoke and sour Young and tender wind, a calling to Green, that pulls life from ash Look at that Dad, said the child A rescue helicopter … Continue reading After Bushfire
To My Hero and Other Poems
By Roselainie Panginuma Saidamin To My Hero To the woman who is worthy of my respect, You are the color of the garden of my paradise. A mother of five with a soft-enduring heart, Your love is wary and so is your sacrifice. To the woman who gives comfort and solace, You are the luminous … Continue reading To My Hero and Other Poems
Academy of the Heart And Mind 