Rom-com

by Maura Yzmore A bubbly, tightly wound woman travels through foreign lands and a gruff, snarky man comes along, for a fee, only because he needs money to save his bar.  Along the way, adventure, mayhem and funny quips, them growing close, grand gestures, happy ending, the works. The leads both drop-dead gorgeous, yet relatable, human. Bus station in a village. The two asleep on a bench. She wakes up, sees their Read More

Ostrich

by André N. Lepine I thought I livedAn outsized lifeOstrich huge and free-runningFeet striking heatFrom savanna and sandsMy wings outstretchedAs if I really flew. Then came roarsFrom prowling predatorsShattering the skyWith trumpets accompanyingThunder from the truly hugeJuggernauts of lifeRumbling fear into me. I hidmyhead(buried in sand) until you cameand p u  l   l   e   d     Read More

keep your eye

by Mia Wright (Uses excerpts from the song “Anticipate” by Ani DiFranco.) 1.“we don’t say everything that we couldso that we can say later, ‘oh, you misunderstood’”in the story I heard,someone else played the role of villain,though my mother never revealedtheir evil deed.she just said it, like slidinga note underneath the door.When my mother doesn’t giveexplanations willingly,don’t even bother asking. Read More

What Is Left

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

The Sky Is Also Blue

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