by Holly Day she says she wants me to drive her far, far away, out past the tall gray concrete city buildings, past the picturesque farms with shiny silver grain silos and peaceful black-and-white cattle munching on bright green grass, past the tumbled-down beat-up mobile-home park guarded by junkyard dogs…
by Linda S. Swanberg I look back upon you (child who made me what I am today) skein of potentiality—unwound thread of redeeming choices how could I have known my journey would be all the longer with no end in sight? nights up alone as a youth, I read by…
by Holly Day He was parked in the lot at Thrifty’s Drug buck naked save for A big white cowboy hat and a pair of dark sunglasses he was Holding onto his erect penis and grinning proudly and happily like his penis Was a prize he had won as a…
by George Freek When young I was carefree. I drank the strongest wines. I never touched tea. Mother you raised a fool. Now you are dead, and I am old. Reaching seventy, as stars sharp as scimitars spin like mad dervishes in the night, what good for me to scold?…
by Linda S. Swanberg Fredericksburg, Virginia (1953–1955) For “La” from “Ninna” In memory of Louise Swanberg, M.D. (1949–2014) firefly tips dazzle always out of reach hot breezes own Virginia nights I dream fireflies we mistake for stars all Fredericksburg asleep— town shut up, people gone home wide well of memory ripens…
by George Freek The generations come and go with endless repetition, as spring flowers or winter snows. It’s something we all know. In a few hours I’ll be sitting with another woman, drinking wine, trying to make new memories to forget our past. Ave atque vale, dear wife. Perhaps it’s…
by Holly Day She is a character study of how old I could get if I just stopped smoking and drinking and got a good night’s sleep every once in a while, the old lady smiles at me from across the near-empty bus tells me she’s having another good day,…
by George Freek My cat creeps carefully among spring flowers, over petunias and into jonquils, around budding hyacinths, confronting rising hollyhocks. He’s seeking new adventures in his garden universe, stepping amidst this bursting life, while he, poor fellow, grows older, day by day. If he could, would he wonder why…
by Katherine Yoerg I only hope that in the end What lies before me is a desert road… The sun striking down and turning it gold Accompanied by my dearest friend On both sides of the veil The trail Doesn’t end Although on one side the memories rust And footsteps…
by LuCretia Crump My oh My I cannot deny Just how much I love me Some sweet potato pie Not once Not twice But throughout the entire year Sweet potato pie brings me good cheer It’s so delicious to every bite When everyone is asleep I awake to steal more…