By Allison Grayhurst Bend down and savor the shallow water, stroking out praise like the wind strokes the skin on a gentle day. I was in the pit, closed across the journey, forming lines, lining up eagle eggs, pine cones and leashes. Breaking though irregular dreams that break the edges and expand in an … Continue reading Illusion is our imagined separation from God
Deliverance
By Rajnish Mishra Rajnish Mishra is a poet, writer, translator and blogger born and brought up in Varanasi, India and now in exile from his city. His work originates at the point of intersection between his psyche and his city. His work has now started appearing in journals and websites. How can I ever return … Continue reading Deliverance
Poems by Shalom Aranas
By Shalom Aranas Old Wives Tale (from watching Atonement) The way James Mcavoy looked at the sea of dead children? Is that you? The way you were filled with such disgust Over flies I saw your profile pic the way you didn’t like the lake maybe, there was no fish like everything else. A dirty … Continue reading Poems by Shalom Aranas
Tommy Haiku #126-130
By Thomas Page What is the color Of justice? Is it judge’s Black or angel white? The pragmatist must Wonder if a sword is only Sharp piercing a heart. The pragmatist’s thoughts Are like dull skipping stones With a pow’r to blind. November must be Latin for “stressful” ‘cause it’s Thirty days of “aaahh!” I … Continue reading Tommy Haiku #126-130
Stay
By Jessica Ricks “Are you hungry?” “No.” “Can I get you anything?” “No.” “Why are you doing this?” “Because I don't want to eat.” “You know what I mean.” “Because I have to.” “I still don't understand.” “I don't fully understand either.” “And yet here we are...please talk to me. I don't want to see … Continue reading Stay
Time well-traveled
By Emma Woodford They knew their lives were shattered when he couldn’t find the key. Now she cries at every turn, tears like grains of sadness on her face. We love her house and feel her pain seeing our future in those grains.
Tricks Language Plays
By Rajnish Mishra My daughter, eight, looked at me with eyes: half-enquiring, half-afraid, eyes with faith, half, at least, and asked suddenly: Are we born again after death? I looked at my wife. Our eyes met. She smiled: that corners of the eyes, so-it-did-happen smile, and I knew it was not she who dropped a … Continue reading Tricks Language Plays
Post-Work Remains Left
I forgot the applewood bacon in the work fridge. My mother sleeps on the couch as infomercials promising or your money-back guarantee sins blast like music during a tumbling event. There isn't a single Z for shut-eye for me to borrow this evening, I sweated them out in eight-and-a-half hour aisle increments, but I'll get 'em back … Continue reading Post-Work Remains Left
Kissing Butterfly
By Maria Lagdameo I am here breathing still, pinning; Reminisce of a must have been. I saw you often only in my dreams, Your supple lips kissing me; ...whispering elegy We had a love, that we never get to say; Afraid, held back, forbidden in this world, Where hearts were used to barter for gains, With … Continue reading Kissing Butterfly
IF
By Rajnish Mishra Work is worship. It earns returns. Wives with a poet husband want his work bring returns. Time invested in poetic affairs does not reflect upon account. Life’s short, wants unlimited, each second must count. “Don’t build your Nobel in the air”, she says, motherly, practical and fair. Pardons poor husband’s … Continue reading IF