Weekly Weekend Washing Ritual

by Frances Tate Check weather forecast. Cast skeptical eyes skyward. Flip a coin. Load washing machine. Finger hovers, nuclear nervous over the start button. Commit… door locks, water rushes. No going back now. Cycle completes. Dozens of socks and smalls damply dangle like chandelier pendants from two, one-hook carousels; the washing line equivalent of a cyclist’s quick-release wheel. I promote Read More

The Pushcart Prize 2020 Nominations

With this week’s theme of “Endings,” we thought it appropriate to share our nominations for The Pushcart Prize 2020. For those unfamiliar, Pushcart Press produces a yearly anthology to showcase work from small book presses and little magazines. (Despite the pachyderm, we’re really a little fish, so you know.) Submissions for the anthology, however, must come from the online publication Read More

Washed Away

by Jeffrey Yamaguchi The small bottle of shampoo looks like glass, but turns out to be plastic. Its lighter weight and flimsy body throws off my fingers’ calibration — I lose my grip, and it falls to the floor in a whirlpool of soap suds and hot water disappearing down the drain. I don’t bother to bend over and pick Read More

Leave it for Tomorrow

by Toni G. Maybe my responsibilities will wait forthe rain and not ruin the blue sky of today.I want to stay in and not worry aboutthe many errands that need to be done.I want to fall into an unmade bed, snuggledeep in lukewarm covers. I’ll eatwhen I’m hungry, not the scheduledbreakfast at 7, lunch at 1, and dinner at 8.Allow Read More

Rainy Season

by Annie Bien blinds the savannahblowing toward Kilimanjaro. The horizon, streaked in dark diagonals,drains to a yawning sun, coloring cloud billows in pinks and orange. Thomson gazelles have watchedundaunted       as thunderous downpourssoak        their coats,for so long as hyenabellies stay round and taut,unhungry for meat and bone,       the grazers can walk with ease       under morning shadows. Wild Read More

The Selfishness of Nature

by Toni G. Why is Thunder so full of hate, Lightning so full of spite? Sunlight is the only one who’s truthful, shining a light on his wrong doings, unlike Rain, who is always eager to wash away all evidence of his sins with a quick downpour. Tornadoes are jealous fools harvesting malice to rip apart all in their path, Read More

Ironic Honeymoon

by Tammy L. Breitweiser The officer told me Grayson didn’t feel anything. The impact was quick. It’s what the officer claimed anyway. What I will tell you is I bolted upright in bed at 4:56 a.m. and knew. I just knew. I can assure you he felt the impact because I felt it. It had been a fairly typical morning. Read More