By Stephen Kingsnorth Sanctuary Altar surround, the sanctuary - it’s holy ground, bared soles, atone, for I have trod with loosened thongs, where even angels fear to tread, and souls exposed, by spirit fed a sentinel, saint sentry point. Yet killing field those turbulent - Becket, Luwum, Romero, priests, for shame exposed, unwelcome voice, seed … Continue reading Sanctuary and Other Poems
Night Driving and Listening to Crickets
By H. Russell Smith Night Driving Another world, another time All too familiar to none Except those, like me, Who found a box on a bottom shelf In an empty, dusty, antique shop Resting along Main Street, Heaving for breath in a wheezing, unremarkable town Just like a thousand others Scattered along old state highways. … Continue reading Night Driving and Listening to Crickets
Oh Mother, Forgive Us and An Ode to Misfits
By J.W. Ellenhall Oh Mother, Forgive Us Oh Mother, My Mother, Our greed smothered your cries. We drilled too deep, drew oil from your veins, until the ground quaked with your screams. We burned your hair, smoked your tree tresses, until tsunamis cooled your aching skin. We filled your sky eyes with fumes, until you … Continue reading Oh Mother, Forgive Us and An Ode to Misfits
The Dog With a Golden Mane
By Patricia Furstenberg Down by the river, down the lane Runs the dog with a golden mane, And reds and browns and a leaf or two Are usually stuck in his fur, it's true. He's got it all, for he's a busy dog. The world is his, from the hill’ top down to the logs. … Continue reading The Dog With a Golden Mane
God Bless the Day I Met You and Little Angel
By Peace Nkeiruka Maduako God Bless The Day I Met You "God Bless The Day I Met You" have been previously published on IndianPeriodical (indianperiodical.com) God bless the day I met you, God bless the first of December, In the straw field up yonder, Sitting on a rock of amber. God bless the day I … Continue reading God Bless the Day I Met You and Little Angel
In my final thoughts
By Victoria Hewitt In my final thoughts I hope my leg is thumping in ecstasy like our dogs in the throes of a belly rub. I hope I’m embracing the joy along with the pain because without the hurt all that joy would be taken for granted. I see your faces, the family I choose, … Continue reading In my final thoughts
Holiday Cityscapes and Other Poems
By Judith Cody Holiday Cityscapes Ringing of the Salvation Army bells on the snowy street corner, hunched as if bent body repels freezing wind for long hours at the copper kettle for the poor, the lonely bell sounds through the crowds of shoppers anxiously scurrying from door to door where a bit of warmth seeps … Continue reading Holiday Cityscapes and Other Poems
The Zoo and Other Poems
By Jake Price The Zoo A flamboyance of flamingos eat shrimp out of the hands of a zookeeper. While the birds are distracted, someone else collects eggs. - The next day around breakfast time, the flamingos get their weekly wing clipping so they can’t fly away. Pink yolks sizzle in a frying pan and get … Continue reading The Zoo and Other Poems
people say they hate books
By Neo Yee snow-white pages that crackle under fluorescent bulb words which threaten to escape their prison people say they hate books but they have never had a hard-backed tome flush against their side, leathery door to another world they have never read a book so many times that the tea-stained sheets are halfway gone, … Continue reading people say they hate books
Teach Us, O Nature
By Mike Turner The stars in the firmament Teach us to shine a light In the face of darkness The trees in the storm Teach us to bend to the wind But not break The sun rising in the east Teaches us that a new day always comes After darkest night And the shells upon … Continue reading Teach Us, O Nature
Academy of the Heart And Mind 