Featured Posts

Plants sprouting up between cobblestones

Usher Me In

by Hibah Shabkhez Usher me in, whispers chaos, grinningWickedly. The earth rails at the grey squaresOf concrete bordered with red lines of brickUpon which you are grotesquely wobblingIn the aimless revolt of youth that caresFor order, and ashamed of it, is quickAnd ferocious in calling for endings – Usher me…

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Pen writing on lined paper

The Ink’s Curse

by Brittney Cray In the small, picturesque town of Cresthaven, a shadow loomed beneath the façade of tranquility. It was a place where creativity flourished, where artists found solace in their craft, and where the written word held an esteemed place in the hearts of its inhabitants. But amidst the…

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Headstones and purple flowers in a graveyard

The Graveyard’s Eyes

by Kevin Jones (This story contains murder and dark fantasy-horror elements.) I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve been there — to the graveyard. How many times I’ve felt the bone-chilling stares of the headstones as I walked through the raven-black gates. Every time, I gripped my flowers, my…

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Rain falling off of a roof

RE: The Weather Machine

by S.E. Denny Fri, Apr 20, 10:52 AM (20 minutes ago) Dear Archer, When we first started this project, it was just you and me standing around your parent’s garage playing at being engineers. All the greats start that way: Bill Gates and Allen, Jobs, Wozniak, and Wayne. There must…

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Person pumping gas at a gas station

Principle at the Pump

by Kevin M. Folliard (This story contains drugs and violence.) Principal Prentis left Burlsbury Elementary promptly, after students had served their weekday detention. Halfway home, she pulled her blue Buick into the corner Safeway to fuel up. She parked alongside pump 3, behind a beat-up pickup. The truck hadn’t pulled…

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Man sitting on an overlook and thinking

Clip

by Laine Derr When I getmy wits . . . I keep onein the head ready to runready to pop points spray –rat-a-tat-tat that’s howthe thoughts get got, cutand beveled too short totrim the top.

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Seats in front of a theater stage

Port-Wine

by Bill Kitcher I My dad made me go to the play at the school he was working at for a year. I didn’t like plays in those days. I generally didn’t like things that forced me to go outside. I liked reading and TV. I didn’t like going to…

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City at twilight

Like the Dinosaurs

by Mitchel Montagna Evening came, and never passed throughIt clung to the valley like smokeThe heat settled in and no earthly wind blewA layer of clouds swiftly broke. People looked strange in the dim purple lightTheir pallor and features were goneThey huddled on corners and waited for nightBut twilight just…

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Desert with mountains in the distance

Earth Hour

by Dee Allen MARCH 26, 2022—8:30pm to 9:30pm PT On this Saturday evening,I take a breakFrom electricity. Decisive move,Hand to wall switch.Lights off. Candles on. Lit match to a few candle wicks.Shadows on walls and ceiling shimmy,Dance to flame’s spontaneous rhythm. Dimly litComfort zone, filled withComfort food on a plate,…

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Bamboo forest

Bamboozled

by Abbie Doll A meditation— Picture a thicket of bamboo. A towering emerald forest. Nice and dense. Sunlight speckling the stalks. Embrace the serenity, and breathe. Deep. She listened, allowing the calming imagery’s swift delivery of reee…lax…ayshun, RSVP’ing yes to the bamboo’s cordial invite into this thriving garden of contemplation….

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