By Thomas Page Workshopping poetry means that many poems have their words excised to make them better. The original poems these came from may see the light of day but for now these excised stanzas and lines will be put on display. 1 Sweat glossed necks roll Turning curious heads looking At fenders crushed. Smiles … Continue reading Excised Stanzas and Lines
Nature Hour
By Connie Woodring It is 4:30pm and time for nature hour. We set our appetizers of fried calamari and shrimp cocktail next to our martinis, relax in our favorite back porch lounge chairs and wait for the show to begin. Our first act is the yellow and black butterfly. No, I don’t know its Latin … Continue reading Nature Hour
Respite
By Allan Lake So warm inside the medical centre. Padded chairs, clean toilets, TV, chilled water. Nobody asks why I’m here. Receptionists don’t notice me so my invisibility is working today. As their title suggests they’re paid to receive not to sort out those with appointments and those who need a warm, dry place to … Continue reading Respite
Thesaurus and Other Poems
By Allen Guest Thesaurus A thesaurus would eventually lead me to “dappled,” the way the sunlight plays on the lawn as the trees – a poplar, two sweetgum, a red maple – sway in a light breeze on a cool morning in early May. But dappled does not really capture it. “Magically dappled?” No. This … Continue reading Thesaurus and Other Poems
Fluent Influences and Other Poems
By Alex Andy Phuong Fluent Influences Being under the influence Implies intoxication, But the ones who demonstrate maturation Do have the ability To help others Profoundly, And linguistic speakers Could utilize language skills To positively influence Their own surroundings To benefit humanity In a world filled with diversity Well Wells Snow White singing at a … Continue reading Fluent Influences and Other Poems
Not Just Yet and Other Poems
By Tom Squitieri Not Just Yet At morning the snow eludes The joy of rebirth the wakeup of beauty promised instead the cold darts Of water pellets Hit the deck Warfare on our anticipation Beauty chased away Cocoon endangered Cold rain does not Hug tree branches with beauty Permit fast dashes for snow angels Nor … Continue reading Not Just Yet and Other Poems
Always Will Be the Scream and Other Poems
By Gregory Johnson Always Will Be the Scream Down deep In the dark wet places He is mired in muck And he screams. Holy sufferer Or a ghost on a spree Gives his voice To the tortures therein. I told him sincere That he didn’t have to scream He stopped, puzzled… Then what? He seemed … Continue reading Always Will Be the Scream and Other Poems
Hanging By A Thread
By Rolf Erickson When the car stopped spun backwards on the shoulder of highway 34 it was so dark and so quiet I thought I was dead. So I said, "Hello?" my eyes still closed. And she said, "I'm here." That's when I knew it wasn't over yet. For two weeks I walked through space … Continue reading Hanging By A Thread
Catskill Oasis Bookends
By Susan Anmuth Every autumn except last covid year my Yorkie leads me around the Saugerties garlic festival. Neither of us knows how to read signs that say No Dogs. This year we go a day late -- because now it’s getting personal. Nothing could keep me from the October 2 march for abortion rights. … Continue reading Catskill Oasis Bookends
The World Has A Habit Of Saying No and Georgia Olivia Duke
By April McDermott The World Has A Habit Of Saying No The world has a habit of saying no. Saying no to my dreams. Saying no to all my great plans and schemes. When I told this to my Papa, He simply smiled and said, "Maybe the world is actually saying yes instead. "You see, … Continue reading The World Has A Habit Of Saying No and Georgia Olivia Duke
Academy of the Heart And Mind 