The Awakening by Jim Parks

Jess' Palace by Yvette Managan

Something's Wrong With Lennie by Nonnie Augustine

Unexpected Bats by Ann Walters

To Pierce the Sky by Ann Walters

The Dancer by Ann Walters

Desert Roses  1994 by Ann Walters

The Man in the Wet  Gray Fedora by Jim Parks

Gil by Pepe Nero

The Boy by Yvette Managan (Flys)

High Water

Willy was born delighted in the middle of a rainstorm that threatened to flood the root cellar where they were hiding from the lightning. She had wide-open blue eyes. Her tiny expressive face soundlessly oohed and aahed and grimaced and startled with each feeling from the very beginning and  soon  she had a coo of contentment that nurtured her mother and then a three-tone song of a laugh that always made her siblings smile. Thunderstorms and floods threatened them so often but Willy's birth let Mama engage with them easier from then on.

The River Thief

English Wells fought the Pumquich River for forty years  moving his will ever by degrees at it. "By God  Miriam " he often said to his wife  "I'll go at it until I drop  most likely. What you work for  you get. You get what you work for." English  lacking funds or worldly promise  wanted to steal more land from this side of the river  to push his small estate out over the river#s run  to claim energy's due.

Take It

Perseid Fireflies

Prognosis Unclear

I Use To Think

Camlin

Paradise

learning to fly

Her

Blizzard by Nonnie Augustine

Cold  Cold Heart by Jim Haughey

"The Table in the Garden" is a testament to the power of nature to inspire  to heal  and to bring people together. It celebrates the simple  yet profound moments of connection that can occur in the midst of natural beauty.

"Barely Escaped" serves as a reminder of the complexity of life and the unexpected turns it can take  encouraging a reflective stance towards our actions and their consequences.

The poem serves as a tribute not just to Plath but to all who navigate life with an acute sense of sensitivity. It highlights the beauty and curse of such a disposition--the ability to perceive deeply and intensely

Higgins crafts a multi-layered narrative in a compact form  utilizing the image of the wasp and the actions surrounding it to delve into complex themes of fear  struggle  and the human condition.

Stan Long's "Apprehension" invites readers to ponder the origins of consciousness and its profound connection to the cosmos. The poemFs exploration of seeing  believing  and understanding reflects a deep curiosity about the nature of existence and our place within it. By weaving together themes of inner vision  evolution  and cosmic origins  Long crafts a contemplative piece that resonates with both scientific and philosophical inquiries.

The Basket Weaver" by Clare McCotter celebrates the art of basket weaving  juxtaposing traditional craftsmanship against modern therapeutic practices. The poem describes a newly qualified occupational therapist who embraces basket weaving  despite its outdated perception among peers. The narrator  considered a "basket case " finds solace in creating a basket  symbolizing a sanctuary for thoughts and prayers. Through vivid imagery and a reflection on change  the poem underscores the enduring value of hands-on creativity and its calming influence on the mind.

Camlin

Paradise

learning to fly

Her

In this tender garden elegy  Kathleen Cassen Mickelson reflects on memory  labor  and the quiet transformation of grief. Through pruning  presence  and green promise  the body remembers love-and turns sorrow into soil. A poem rooted in care and renewal.

Showcasing illustration: our 'Word Architect Page' complements the story and poetry in this issue. With a focus on imaginative expression  each piece captures the space that bridges the gap between text and metaphor  inviting readers to experience creativity through another lense!

Bringing Voice to life: Blending storytelling and poetry  and reinventing them for a modern audience. Also in our 'Meet the Characters' section you will find insightful AI breakout-fun conversations.

The Wishing Line

The Kelp Oracle

In Focus (July)

Whim Wharf

The New Constellation

In Picture on Picture  Mari Fitzpatrick captures the lively interplay of nature and imagination through a vivid cat-and-mouse chase by a rain barrel. Blending humor and reflection  she contrasts the raw vitality of the pursuit with the serenity of a garden setting. The piece evolves into a poetic exploration of movement  tension  and the delicate balance of life in its fleeting moments.

In The Mandylion  Joe Giordano intertwines art  danger  and family dynamics through the lives of Anthony and Valentina Provati. This gripping excerpt sets the stage for a high-stakes narrative as Anthony  a Manhattan art dealer  is drawn back into a dangerous world by Sophia  an alluring figure from his past. With Valentina’s sharp wit and FBI expertise  the siblings navigate temptation  loyalty  and the shadowy underbelly of the art world.

In Spanish New World Poetry  Stephen Zelnick examines Latin America's resilience amid imperialism  with Alfonsina Storni as a focal voice. Her poetry  from passionate to piercing  addresses themes of love  oppression  and self-liberation. Zelnick's analysis reveals Storni’s growth from romantic musings to a profound critique of machismo and social constraints  highlighting her lasting impact on Latin American literature and women's voices.

What Rose Wanted by Charles Bane  Jr. captures a yearning for intensity  adventure  and spiritual union. Rose desires a dramatic rescue under cover of night  a vivid chapel scene with colors illuminating her  and an all-consuming passion akin to a crusade. She envisions herself as a conquest  seeking devotion as fierce as the stars  blending themes of romance  mysticism  and self-surrender.

"In San Angel" by Mandy Macdonald immerses readers in the lively rhythms of a jacaranda-shaded plaza in Mexico. Tourists linger  rich Coyoacan girls strut across uneven streets  dog-walkers parade with spirited pets  and old men smoke by the fountain as green parrots fly past. This scene captures a vibrant slice of life  blending everyday elegance with a touch of whimsy as day fades into dusk.

On the third Tuesday of every month  Elspeth joins her eclectic book group  navigating the peculiar dynamics and varied tastes of its members. This month  Alison presents "CassiopeiaFs Hair " a mysterious book with a murky past linked to her uncleFs strange death in Tangier. Despite warnings of the book bringing bad luck  the group decides to read it. Amidst personal revelations and conflicts  the enigmatic FreyaFs departure and a final twist leave Elspeth pondering the thin line between fiction and reality. A tale of intrigue  relationships  and the unexpected impact of a single book.

After a night of dancing  two elderly couples  James  Charlie  April  and Isabelle  leave the hotel ballroom in high spirits. Drunk on laughter and nostalgia  they reminisce about their youth  especially a memorable night swimming at sixteen. Deciding to relive that moment  they take a train to the beach  where under the cover of night  they strip down and wade into the cold water  feeling young again. This poignant story captures the essence of friendship  the passage of time  and the longing to reconnect with the past. Dive into a tale of joy  reflection  and timeless camaraderie.

Stephen Zelnick explores the life and legacy of CÃÂ�sar Vallejo  Peru’s groundbreaking modernist poet. From his haunting work in Trilce to his Paris years  this essay delves into Vallejo’s themes of suffering  identity  and poetic revolution in Latin America.

A meticulous government bookkeeper’s quiet life is upended when two armed convicts storm his usual diner. A darkly poignant tale of routine  bravery  and legacy  Miller's A Well Ordered Life explores the quiet dignity behind one man’s predictable world.

Winifred  a restless young fairy  leaves her woodland home in search of adventure and stumbles into a suburban garden where reality bites back. Joslin's whimsical tale of courage  chaos  and the hard-earned truth that becoming a Story Fairy means living the story first.

A whimsical prelude to the Queen’s croquet party--mischief  mistaken tulip bulbs  painted roses  and royal uproar. In an enchanted glade  garden boys  cooks  and Alice herself become tangled in a riot of colour and confusion. A playful twist on Wonderland tradition by Marie Lynam Fitzpatrick.

In a kingdom of living playing cards  flamingo mallets  and vanishing cats  Alice navigates a surreal croquet match where rules bend  tempers flare  and â€�“Off with her head!" echoes at every turn. A wildly imaginative chapter from Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

"Elderflower Moon" by Sheree Mack is a lyrical and atmospheric poem that captures the reader's imagination with its vivid natural imagery and mystical elements. The poem invites readers to explore and find the speaker in a serene  enchanted setting  blending the boundaries between human presence and the natural world.

"Porcelain Prisoner" is a rich  multi-layered poem that explores complex themes through vivid imagery and a reflective narrative. It captures the essence of familial bonds and the enduring impact of memories  inviting readers to reflect on their own connections to the past.

The Deadly Poppy Field by L Frank Braum
Our little party of travelers awakened the next morning refreshed and full of hope  and Dorothy breakfasted like a princess off peaches and plums from the trees beside the river. Behind them was the dark forest they had passed safely through  although they had suffered many discouragements; but before them was a lovely  sunny country that seemed to beckon them on to the Emerald City.

In this gripping narrative  Saul  a tortured artist  navigates the treacherous waters of creativity and personal demons. Amidst the shadows of his past and the complexities of his relationship with Emily  he searches for truth in his art  embodying the quintessential struggle of the creator.

"Love Song of a Divorce Attorney" is a poignant exploration of the human condition  masterfully blending the personal with the professional  the emotional with the environmental  to reveal the complex tapestry of life that unfolds even in the most ordinary momen

This narrative provides a fertile ground for exploring themes of perception  reality  and the thin line between sanity and madness. It also touches on the deep human need for connection and understanding  and the ways in which people cope with challenging circumstances.

In this meditative poem  Oonah V. Joslin traces the spiral of connection and disconnection through time  matter  and memory. With echoes of Escher and DNA  the poem explores the fragile chemistry of identity  friendship  and the spectral nature of being.