Putting On Face Cream In Front Of The Mirror

by Ashly Curtis She’s not dead yet, but someday—my fingers tremble at the thought, performing my nightly ritual.I dip my middle finger in the soft white bowl and smear youthon my cheeks, nose, forehead, chin, stick out tongue at my reflectionin the glass, like she did at me when I was her mirror.For a brief moment, I call her spirit Read More

Plane Takes Off from Chicago

by Thomas Murray Plane takes off from Chicago; touches down in Orange County.One with a young man; the other with another, bald and gray.In between many worlds, lives, and dreams passed by.Bound to a god I can never see, but sure I feel It with me. Going from the Gobi to the 405 is a full-time job.My thoughts like winter Read More

It’s Prom Season in the Wasteland

by Justin Karcher A really big crowis chasing an ice cream truckdown a crusty alleywhere high school studentsare chilling sugar on their tonguesand talking about how their parentswere murdered by breathalyzers high school studentsdrinking too much tap waterpissing in their ancestors’coffee cupsMercury is in retrograde boys and girls in Americacarving search enginesinto cop car tireshoping justice looks for themwhen they Read More

Old Journals in the Attic

by Karen Shepherd Through open doors, a waft has found an in,an entry point, a path to hidden roomsabandoned years ago. The air, so stale,holds sleeping ghosts that hang from ceiling beamsadorned with words and webs and dried bouquets.It’s not the breeze that makes them gently sway.A restlessness has been here, waiting. Lightwas needed to be shed, to break the Read More