By Shashank (This poem describes a journey of a young boy with a heart filled with confidence of youth, but he is to stumble if he makes wrong decisions nevertheless.) The path lies deserted in frontas he looks keenlywith no fright whatsoever.Trees by the borders stand tallas he smileswith the first drop of sweat struggling … Continue reading Fright
August Summer Competition Poetry Winner: “Summer at the lake” by Rita McDermott
Originally published in Bards Across the Pond. Peering downward from the sky…A painted picture of lush green trees Sprouting up from the groundLike clumps of broccoli.A green garden surrounding a still body of water Pools of diamonds sparkling on the surface Courtesy of the sun’s radiant rays.Wooden structures jutting out from the shore Invading upon … Continue reading August Summer Competition Poetry Winner: “Summer at the lake” by Rita McDermott
Dances With Raised Arms
By Brenda Mox The angel at the doorway moves in the wonder of worlds beyond time. Representative of some mystic glowing world of unreality, her voice rings vibrations into the soul like a trumpet, echoing in dark places of being.She shines moonlight on the darkness hovering on the edge of one’s consciousness.From the radiance of … Continue reading Dances With Raised Arms
switching laundry at 12:09am
By Dominic Moore Faces shout my nameentering the place I played center stagebut now I perform in the audience.Rainy drive homeand a silent kiss on the cheekare my accompanying thoughts at curtain call.The walk upstairs grows longer, eventuallyreaching to the damp clothesthat have sat too long in the wash.Fistfuls of fabric enter the dryermy last … Continue reading switching laundry at 12:09am
For My Mother
By Okereke Emmanuel Chibuike A woman with fire—not just in her eyes,but in her bones,in every breath she burns for the ones she loves.My mother.My mother, my pride.My lighthouse when the tides got high.She stayed for me—when the world turned cold,when it whispered lies and slammed its doors,she stood,unshaken.No applause, no trophies,just cracked hands and … Continue reading For My Mother
Five Summer Haiku
By Jim Bates Northern Lights glowingSoft waves shimmering like dreamsWaiting to come true.Morning rain fallingSoggy wet flower headsBend in silent thanks.Early morning lightFlowers nodding in the dawnSerene peaceful calm.Aunt and Uncle's cabinOn a lake overflowingWith good memories.Thankful for flowersTheir color so enrichingTheir beauty such joy. Jim lives in a small-town twenty miles west of Minneapolis, … Continue reading Five Summer Haiku
Where the doves come to cry
By Oceanika Pandey They said, “We fight to end the fight,” To make the dawn outshine the night, They sent the ones with steady hands, To bleed upon foreign lands; But have you forgotten that they are too the children of mothers who never knew that peace is but a mere facade, Built on graves … Continue reading Where the doves come to cry
Gathering Embers
By Langutani n'wa Vahlengwe I collect pieces left behind, in eerie walls where shadows alignA dim glow guides me through the darkI collect debris of shattered dreams, what’s been lostIlluminate the faint fallacies that haunt us stillIn far-off lands, where frozen hearts and minds clutch tightThe weight of war and legacy of painI gather and … Continue reading Gathering Embers
Afternoon Thoughts in Katoomba
By Rizwan Sahib Bodies flatline on the heat wave,and that’s the good. The bad: after the argument, I flung my broad-brimmed hat into the back seat,and left it there. Now I feel like I’ve been whacked on the head by a cricket bat. Someone says to sit in the shade. If only we could trade … Continue reading Afternoon Thoughts in Katoomba
Dora Marr
By Antonia Hildebrand Women are suffering machines, Picasso said.And then he did everything he could to make it true.Poor Dora loved him.She was an artist herself,but he immortalized her as The Weeping Woman,without ever admitting, he was the onewho made her weep.Dark haired, beautiful, gifted and intense,she fell for him.Her photography was innovative and radical.So … Continue reading Dora Marr
Academy of the Heart And Mind 