by Amanda Valerie Judd a poem is an ocean full of depths and reefsfilled with sharks and sailors and seaweedfilled with plastic and whale spermwhipping up a tidal wave and a hurricanea poem is an ocean working for industriesa poem is an ocean losing its relevance as a living thinga…
by Tayler Kastros “I found a genie in a bottle of Glenlivet 12 year” placed first in Southern New Hampshire University’s 2023 Fall Fiction Contest.
by Gabe Converse “Dark Water” placed second in Southern New Hampshire University’s 2023 Fall Fiction Contest. The pond behind the old house is full of leaves and scummy water. It hasn’t been touched for months. Louis comes to it sometimes in the early morning, his feet bare and damp and…
by R.E. Bunch “Sleeping Beauty” placed third in Southern New Hampshire University’s 2023 Fall Fiction Contest. “I’m dying,” She croaked. The sing-song in her voice was strangled out in a hoarse wheeze. “It’s the flu,” The back of my hand rested on her forehead. Her hair was matted to her…
by Ness Wheeler “Beasts” placed fourth in Southern New Hampshire University’s 2023 Fall Fiction Contest. The long winter had forced every creature to be bold in how they got their nourishment, and few were as bold as I had been to keep my brood fed. At midnight, every ten sunsets,…
by Mackenzie Bodily “Rat-a-Tat” placed fifth in Southern New Hampshire University’s 2023 Fall Fiction Contest. Marlyle watched the words “BEACON ACTIVE” slide over the walls of his one-man cruiser. The cabin was dark, illuminated only by the stars outside the window and those words projected in bright red by his…
by Laine Derr I traded my heartfor an amethyst – Gifted it to a girlwho sits in the sun. She touchesmy smile, w/ lips rubbed smoothby winter rain. Hands holdinga stone beating my love, shiningdays of pale purple. I traded my heartfor lilac, for her.
by Leila Farjami After you walkor fly awayfrom your body,a long winter takes hold,with its slumped oaksand graying sun. From your windowinside an empty house,I could watch the garden for days.From above, your eyesmight watch me. Our words to each otherwill be breathwoven into the airoutside of time.My language will…
by Roxanne Finniss It starts at night,when my mind has fallen asleep,leaving me defenseless.The trauma of the blade,thick in width and sharpened to a point,causes bruises underneath my eyes.Why don’t you ever brush your teeth?My fiancé said the other day to mewhen I was laying in my bed all comfy.I…
by Michael McGrath When awakened by a telephone call at some ungodly hour, I’d like to think I’m not alone in my reaction to it. Throwing back the covers, I scramble out of bed, and when I finally locate my phone I’m hesitant to pick it up, automatically assuming that…