The Cairn on the Beach

by Annie Bien Artha’s feet sank into sand, the tide swept waves forward, ocean swarmed his legs, stung his ankle wounds. He cringed, dreading the whip, shouts, lacerations. He sank torso deep. Stay still. No more fire, collapsing wood, temple crashing, shouts, running, no darted thigh, falling. He remembered the boy blowing into his trunk, whispering: “No more whips, marigold Read More

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