Featured Posts

Black and white magpie with a broken beak

BrokeBeak the Magpie and His Family

by Elia Anie Kim BrokeBeak the magpie was easy to recognise at my bird bath because of his appearance. His plumage was striking black-and-white, with the upper beak broken off at the tip. Despite the fact that he had a compromised beak with which to forage with, he appeared to…

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A makeup compact filled with powder on a table next to a powder puff and makeup brush with other makeup palettes in the background

Prepared

by Karen Mandell Rose boarded the bus on Oaktonand got off in downtown Evanstonto buy make up at Woolworth’s.She picked up Max Factor and Maybelline’smascara, powder, lipstick in a muted ruby,skipping liner because her eyes,dark brown, round stained saucerswere best left alone. Foundation, a dab of perfume,Martin’s yearly birthday present,…

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A vintage camera resting against a leather case

Call Me Nostalgic

by Ian C Smith Photographers can be both artists and conservationists.  When we see images of old or departed folk bathed in light in family albums – how young you look – so slim – that hair – pangs of sadness are gladdened, too, as we hustle to remain ahead…

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A lemon hanging from a lemon tree

The Lemon Tree in the Living Room

by Karen Mandell The heavy-duty plastic crackledas I shifted my weight on the couch.Straight ahead, in front of the window,a fake lemon tree pretended to need the sun.A soon to be ex-boyfriend snickeredwhen he saw it. I agreed with himbut hated his condescension. I wasn’t upfor analysis but loved the…

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A mirror broken into several pieces

All These Broken Pieces

by Quiarah Butler Coll bolted straight up, sweat-drenched and shivering. She was sitting naked on her bedroom floor, thick vines wrapping her like ribbon. Her feet were caked to the ankles in mud and silt. “Damn it! Not again,” she groaned. She’d been sleepwalking again. Fifth night in a row….

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A persons shadow standing in front of a window

Living in the Shadows: Life After MST

by John Gregory Evans This story contains suicide and sexual assault. For some life hangs in the balance. Living in the shadows is never easy. Life after Military Sexual Trauma is not easy, either. But some of us reach that ideated pinnacle where suicide and attempts become an everyday experience….

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Ocean waves crashing over sand on a beach

My Trauma Sounds Like

by Marie Soffy Saint Fort Dancing over the edge of a cliff,cliff of a deep, deep oceanon a busy summer day,where surfboards and waves crashing.Peacefully crashing ashoreinto beautiful lullabies in our eardrums.That’s what my trauma sounds like. Sweet howling of the branchesas they move their hips side by side;while their…

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A rainy city street at night

The Body

by Dan Richardson I first saw the Body in the doorway.  I stopped when I saw it, my hands holding tight to my backpack, the straps cutting into my shoulders. The other people walked by without looking at it. Cars glided by, hissing through the puddles and sending icy jets…

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A women with braids stretching her hands above her head.

New Age Black-awareness

by Quiarah Butler Manga and Anime convention goerthe age of knowledge grows on me and feedsmy soul, my energy, my mind, the part of methat says “this isn’t blackness; this isn’t cool”but in this new age of Black-awareness, it’s growing on me Gothic aesthetics and music shape my foregroundI’m not…

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A night sky filled with stars

Wisdom (After Tu Fu)

by George Freek I stare at my unmade bed.Outside, a chilling breezerustles the dead leaves,as if they were feathers.The moon is a ball of lead.I gaze at distant stars,lost in the infinite sky,as if they hadnowhere to abide.A torn shirt, hanging froma tree, waves in the breeze,like an abandoned flag,now…

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