by Toni G. There’s a young lady in the corner, not so far from the dance floor, lost in the fantasy of what her first dance should be like and with whom. She waits with her head slightly bowed. Insecurity creates beads of sweat on her perfectly scrubbed and powdered skin. She looks down pretending to admire her new gown, Read More
Author: Andre
The Small Smooth Stone
by John Homan For many years a small smooth stone lay on a roadside next to a desert highway coming down a mountain. It was an attractive smooth bluish grey stone with interesting black lines and flecks of quartz that made it sparkle. It was both flat and rounded at the same time. It was the sort of stone you Read More
Collect
“That’s a conch from Turks and Caicos,” says James. “The red one’s a dried starfish from St. Thomas. Ah, and that one was a hermit crab. We watched it drop this one and move into a new home.” “Wow, James. What a cool bunch of shells.” Elfred puts the conch down. “What made you keep them all?” “Well, most of Read More
Hate
by Alison McBain I used to say hate to people, objects possessions the dispossessing fragments of creativity changing sediments layers of years one by one pressed down upon one but most things are not bloody two-shoes flickers, horror movies ultimate the end most things are not to be hated most things lead perfect, pleasant tick-tock shelf-lives unseen unmoved unmoving not Read More
Elephants Never Conjugate
by Landon Knepp Babosa whooshed past on his customized rollerblades. “Yo patinar!” he shouted, a pugnacious smirk underneath his trunk. “It’s patino, you little jerk!” Elbert replied from his perch. The highly-educated toucan could not abide self-satisfaction derived from half-assed research. Babosa turned and came back for another pass. “Muy patinar!” Elbert fought the urge to pull out his feathers. Read More
At the grave of your death, I smile
by Elisabeth Horan For why not; God’s been joking with us All the while; He whispers placation In our ears, plants lust for the sinner’s Alcoholic slide, leaves dust where a Mother, her child, she should find. My loss, and melancholy, were it not For our friendship, would be funny, Really, I laugh at the nose of death – Pointy Read More
Soup / Sopa
by Édgar Omar Avilés (translated by Toshiya Kamei) “This quail tastes great!” “Quail? It’s mushroom soup, Marcos…” “The ones I brought back from Oaxaca? They are not mushrooms!” “Well, they must be very good. You asked for another plate a while ago.” “This is my second plate, Rebeca!” “No, it’s your third, honey… Hey, what do you know! Sofía got Read More
When the moon spills the secret
by Megha Sood My memories,so scarred and yet sublimeare made of the moonthat white orb of truth,shining mighty high Sitting high in the cleavage of the nightwith a shifty-eyed smilepasses the wisdom from night after nightyour heart, it says,has to go through the phasesto become fullwith joy and grief alike my mottled skinsieved by the milky moonlightimbued with the softness Read More
Shoulder Perched Bird
by Rickey Rivers Jr. A bird perched on my shoulder keeps me company.“Is his name chip?” was the joke you made to me.I realized it applies more to you than me.My shoulder perched bird sings, tells me all I did not see. When we last met I did not know it would feel like my last breath.My shoulder aches when Read More
Odd list Odd house Odd me (Book Review)
Today the pachyderms travel to 19th-century Amherst, Massachusetts, in search of a quiet place to enjoy Elisabeth Horan‘s Odd list Odd house Odd me (now available from TwistiT Press). Taking Emily Dickinson for her muse, Horan spins poems that journey inward and across centuries to explore sensuality, nature, love, loss, yearning, and one’s mysterious self. Invoking the Muse You do not Read More