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 Artist Studies the Effect of Sadness on Her Own Face

by Amanda McLeod Sadness changes the shape of my face Lines of happiness get redrawn in a different direction with a heavy pencil that only pulls down Eyes have their sparkle  erased Hooded shields appear puffy, and the corners are tugged at by a memory that once, things were better Fine traces  of watercolour tears stain my skin a different 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