by Adeline Macdonald Clean steam iron the linen sheets, white and crisp and beautiful and without fault or fold White walls upon white walls with nothing to upset you or hurt you or make you cry or want to leave or want to think Do you love it? Is it…
by Sarah Marquez Dear, you are a fuzzy image on surveillance cameras, in a black skullcap, a hollow-mask. We stand close in clogged checkout aisles, suck hot air. You pay cash, rub a flat silver clip, coins jingle & jangle in your pocket. I want to be them, tucked away….
by DS Maolalai we were waiting for a train, under a shatterproof shelter. I was going into town and she to meet her godmother at the airport. both hungover; the sky in a rotten mood. the train-track and the station were suspended – up here you could see rooftops go…
by Amy Covel Asleep at night, the darkness comes like a nightmare. I see it all again— chains around my wrists, a faceless phantom holding a bloody knife. Awake, I spring, ready to kill. But I see your face stained with tears. Last time it was stained with blood. What…
by Amy Covel My heart is composed of tiny pieces. Throughout my life, I gave them away, one by one, some to those I wish I could take back who abused and destroyed that part of me. Other parts of me were given in love, never to be given back…
by Amy Covel My mom always said You love to write But don’t rely On it to live Have a backup plan My dad always said Don’t rely on a man For your living Get a job That sustains you After he’s gone My mom always said Your faith is…
by Scott Christopher BeeBe we divide the kids like cars and now I’m off course hit the deck nothing is left inside my breast wicked like nicked snickering on the playground at my expense – derived by things done & said – nothing’s meant no blushed downlight at sunrise; eventide…
by Eddie Brophy I wasn’t prepared to stayI wasn’t indoctrinated that way,sobriety only begets more painand I don’t know if I’m preparedto enjoy all the splendors of the mundaneand find a career that pays the bills,just so I can afford what truly fulfillsa band-aid placed on my heartby my actual…
by Amory Cutting What a color for a night,The blues behind peachBehind a white plantation shade.The amber of her skin swallowing whole the last drops of sun.And her garnet hairis soaking in the darkness engulfing the western shore.I am lost in ennuiLost in a never-ending race against the moon.And in…
by Marc Livanos I touch cool grittybay waters,full of blue-green wavestossing and rollingplayfully animated,as they crash against the shore. I taste saltiness,carried and flung ontwisting twirlingmisty sea breezes –briny, fishyforever saline. In this roux, the laughingcries of seagulls carrythe wisdom of the ages,as their mocking attitudetaunts me –dude, go home,…
by Scott Christopher Beebe it’s been far too long since I’ve seen the sun drift pastyour wide-open eyes matters for naught thatwhen we last spoke, you had said,“Hate the way (I) play this forever dream”of which you’d never seemed apart of its themed scheme each night, we would lieour heads…