Orchard Frost

by Ryan Norman Our hot breath plumed wet cloudsof snowstorms in your convertedpigsty on cold black nights— Frosted grounds of the orchard echoedour joy and the deer stood still. Quilts trapped the warmth of our fleshas I read Whitman into youreyes pressing a finger against flushed lips advancing akiss by the fire. Ryan Norman is a writer from New York Read More

cigarette butts

by Iolana Paedelt love,lightened by fire,only leaves dark red bruises. your lips touch my skin,we burn— fast and bright.half of me turns into ashes,the other half crashes onto silent ground,you let me go,i fall from your handsas you throw me away— glowing cigarette butts on the pavement,ruins of fallen lovers and broken hearts. Iolana Paedelt is a German writer and Read More

Flutter: southern gothic fever dream (Book Review)

Warm up your February with Flutter: southern gothic fever dream by Kristin Garth, illustrated by Mathew Yates, now available from TwistiT Press. In Flutter, Garth’s annotated sonnets tell the story of Sylvia Dandridge, bed-ridden with scarlet fever in 1883 Pensacola. As the fever progresses, Sylvia becomes drawn into the otherworldly side of her parents’ estate, where dreams and reality fuse. Read More

memories of snow

by Lisa Reily a blur of trees, branches thick with snow,bent with the weight of white. chocolate mud as we step from the businto a flurry of snowflakes,skidding our way to the café, passing fat stray dogswho know the food is bad enoughthat scraps are on their way. back on the bus to eat sesame bars,to sip hot coffee from Read More

For L – – – –

by Andrew M. Bowen A kitten breeze frisks through the trees,the sun shines clear and gold;bright colors, skirts above the knees,the autos hum like bees. And I must find a way to say:“Let’s leave in lightning bold,pack up our hearts in summer hayand leave this murky way. “Your eyes inspire my heart with fireand freeze my soul with cold;so let’s Read More

Darn Dog Adopted Me Today

by Mary Ann Jacobs Sat on my porchSad eyes staring at meLike a pool of despairThumped his tailTake mePlease Don’t want no dogNever had oneDon’t know how toFeed himBathe himTake care of himDon’t want no dog Tongue hanging outLike clothes hanging on Granny’s clotheslineSlobbers up to meGoes under my handWants to be petted Don’t want no slobbering dogGo awayLeave me Read More

At 4am

by Danielle Salvadori dark deep wakingdread and dream entwinetrap me fracture menumb me surface to your breaththe pump of lungsyour slow breathslow rasp tree magpierattles gratesmarksnight’s end you hard breatheand turnthe firstgrey of day pull me nearskin heartvelour wrappeddespair dimmed exhaletogetherslideinto sleep Danielle Salvadori is a poet, photographer and video maker living in London. Her poetry has been published, or Read More

before her mother died

by Lisa Reily she didn’t know that her family was only held togetherby an old plastic Christmas tree,her mother’s pierogies,and homemade lemon cheesecake. she had always planned to make her mother’s food,but only ever watched her cook;now her hands were lost without a recipe. she didn’t know her father had never understoodwhy her mother had left him, even though he’d Read More

Visitation

by Tiffany Belieu Rainfall of tires on asphalt. Subconsciously,a count begins, un-mourned graveson the side of the highway. Guts the consequence of quickness.Creatures who leapwithout looking, spindly leg blown glass fragile, mar the pristinemourning gown of our drive time.Tragedy is an unfolded map in lap en route to an open casket.Lilies, a dozen ghost brides trumpetingmournfully from the backseat. In Read More

Winter Olympics

by Ashly Curtis My best friend and I ice skated on the kitchen floor,twirling off wooden chairs, gliding across tilein our pink ruffled socks. Salchows, Lutzes, evena rare triple axel or two. It was 1998. Olympic season.We held up handmade signs in the living room,blocky marker letters cheering on the figure skaters;Tara Lipinski etching beauty with her blades, carvingballerina. My Read More