by Amy Barnes I held her in my hand, a childhood Stuckey’s souvenir that began life nestled next to tooth-destroying sweet divinity and pecan logs and shot glasses with state names on them. Each thing chosen to be found during a spontaneous safari hunt through sweets and cheap trinkets. She was sculpted to attract kids stopping for a clean cross Read More
Tag: family
Herds
by Anita Goveas I’ve always wanted a trunk. Hands are useful, but wonky lungs mean more time bumside-down means itches in hard-to-reach places. I saw Asian elephants at Chester zoo, Aunty Devika drove us from Stockport in her Mini Cooper. They liked to roll around in the mud, I could see that. But it turned into a two-inhaler day, so Read More
Righteous
by Gale Acuff After Sunday School I walk the long mile home, full of God for another week and the memory of Miss Hooker to last just barely that long. I’ll see her again in seven days, walk to church and it won’t seem so far as it is coming back. I love her and want to marry her but Read More
Refuge
by Jack Somers Dennis left on a Saturday morning. He called Mom a miserable bitch, emptied his drawer in the bedroom, and thundered out the front door. I was relieved. Of all the boyfriends she had brought home over the years, I liked Dennis the least. He took money out of my piggy bank to buy booze and smacked me Read More
Sentimental Passing
by Lamar Neal Last night, I had a dream that my mother died And I woke in a cold sweat awaiting her voice. As I awaited for her to answer my calls, I cried Unsure how I would live if God made his choice. In that moment, life itself became surreal And every fairy tale proved itself as fake. Though Read More
Towers
by Rickey Rivers Jr. Her shoulder was stained with tears of another. Leaning tower of friendship. His shoulder was stained with tears of his mother. Leaning tower of family. Rickey Rivers Jr. was born and raised in Alabama. He is a writer and cancer survivor. His poetry has appeared in Former Cactus, the Ginger Collect, Vamp Cat Magazine, Read More
Urgent Notice
by Mileva Anastasiadou Controversial topics, previously imprisoned, have escaped the history closet and threaten to ruin social and family gatherings. Rumors go the escape has been enabled by recent riots that have been going on around the globe, in regions previously considered part of the civilized world, which in turn have been fueled by events which have been destabilizing predetermined Read More
I Just Wanted to Feel Normal
by Lamar Neal Those who were supposed to love me Walked me to death’s door, in Jesus’s name. I was a young child who couldn’t see And those prayers weren’t helping my shame. I was always a little different But no I was not made incorrectly. I didn’t care I was Heaven spent I just wanted to feel sanity. Sometimes, Read More
i spy
by Marissa Glover fraidy cat, fraidy cat who’s been running home to mommy who’s been running fraidy, fraidy cat simon says you’ve been crying, simon says are those tears, cry baby baby, baby nanny nanny boo boo who’s been running who ring around the rosy pockets full of poesy stand still while we run Read More
Meditations
On the amount of prayer needed to maintain a pregnancy by Elisabeth Horan I never got down on my knees Begged forgiveness for my sin Never held the carpet close – Its fibers touching my chin. I should have begged specifically: God, let me keep this one inside Allow it haven in my womb – Not leave it for a Read More