Whiskey and Cigarettes at the End by Ronald E. Shields captures the quiet reflection of an elderly couple in a cemetery. Surrounded by the decay of time  they savor small comforts like whiskey and cigarettes  contemplating life’s fading moments and the weight of letting go.

The Moment by Ronald E. Shields captures Jesus’s act of forgiveness. From his wooden tower  he sees heaven’s beauty in every grain of sand  reflecting the miracles in everyday life and the order of creation. A profound meditation on divine grace and spiritual insight.

Pegasus  a short story  by Maria Buck tells the haunting story of Vera  a woman trapped by loss and violence. Through the metaphor of her broken golden horse  she confronts trauma  survival  and the battle for her life. A powerful narrative of strength  identity  and redemption in the face of deep emotional scars.

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.

Tracing the legacies of Eleanor of Aragon and Isabella of Castile--two royal daughters whose choices shaped culture and history. From Eleanor's artistic patronage in Ferrara to Isabella’s sponsorship of Columbus  the short piece links brushstrokes and voyages  courts and cathedrals. As the world marks 250 years of U.S. independence  these early echoes remind us how art  power  and faith shaped our present. A lyrical meditation on inheritance  influence  and the enduring symbols that still guide us.

Clancy's "The UFO Over Portland " engages with themes of perception  reality  and the thin line between the ordinary and the extraordinary.

Explore Oliver Goldsmith's classic song from 'She Stoops to Conquer ' a humorous take on 18th-century society's views on education  religion  and merriment.

Each of these pieces showcases Goldsmith's ability to blend social commentary with poetic elegance  often weaving in a moral or philosophical lesson.

If you revel in lyrical poems that intertwine music with imagery or those that depict life with raw honesty  "Raised Voices" by Bruce Harris is for you. Reviewed by Marie Fitzpatrick  this collection traverses the spectrum from light-hearted to deeply reflective. Harris’s verses breathe life into vivid characters and moments  offering something for every readerFs taste. Whether youFre seeking a smile  a memory  or a moment of introspection  "Raised Voices" is a poetic treasure to revisit time and again. Discover Harris's evocative storytelling at www.bruceharris.org.

"Reflecting" by Ian Butterworth is a poignant narrative that interweaves the past and present through the eyes of a man caring for his ailing grandfather. Set in a dim  quiet house  the story captures tender moments of care and reflection  juxtaposing the grandfathers once-vibrant life with his current frailty. Through intimate  heartfelt prose  Butterworth explores themes of love  memory  and the enduring scars of history. This evocative tale is a tribute to resilience and the deep bonds that tie generations together. Discover the profound beauty and sorrow within these pages.

Ghost by James Graham

When the Morning is a Prayer by Kathleen Cassen Mickelson

Ash by James Graham

Knotted Fables  Novella Excerpt  by John P. Bourgeois
Based on how frequently she saw the stork and heard the bird's clacking beak  the hare knew she was kilometres ahead of the tortoise. Comforted by this  she stopped to graze at a particularly emerald patch of nettles and dandelions. The run had famished her  but the hare did not want to eat her fill at the banquet. Not in front of the other animals.

The Whole Circus by Oonah Joslin
Pyro the dragon flew around the big top trying to create a breeze  make the banners flap  make the canvas sides billow out -- anything to get seen. He watched the audience applaud as Julianne somersaulted on Tiny’s back. Tiny’s huge feet plodded round the ring kicking up swirls of sawdust. He trumpeted with his long nose  knelt and stood and swished his little tail. They even went 'Oooooooo’ when he did a huge poo -- right there -- on the circus floor.

Throughout the poem  there is a deep appreciation for the rhythm of life in Quesada  where nature and tradition intertwine harmoniously. The poet's affection for this place is palpable  as they celebrate its beauty and enduring spirit.

"Phantasmagoria" offers a compelling exploration of the human psyche and the intricate interplay between memory  consciousness  and emotion.

Meeting Point by Nick Bowman is a deeply evocative poem that intertwines personal memory with the timeless rhythm of the sea. The vivid imagery of the beach and its sounds creates a poignant backdrop for the speakerFs reflections on their father. Through shared moments and familial connections  the poem captures the convergence of past and present  illustrating how landscapes and memories shape our identities and relationships. Bowman's lyrical language and rich metaphors make this piece a moving meditation on legacy and continuity.

Marbled Chocolate by Maire Morrissey-Cummins is a haunting exploration of childhood memories intertwined with food and trauma. The poem begins with a nostalgic recall of chocolate and homemade treats  juxtaposed with the harshness of strict discipline. The vivid imagery of shop-bought cakes and the subsequent punishment unveils deep-seated familial tensions. Morrissey-Cummins' poignant narrative reveals the lasting impact of these experiences  culminating in a powerful reflection on healing and recovery.

In "There Were Balloons" by Cathy S. Ulrich  a child's experience at an old woman's funeral is poignantly depicted through his innocent perspective. Balloons  usually symbols of joy  ascend like colorful punctuation marks in the sky  released by a grandly fat man. The child  uncomfortable in his formal attire  recalls the old womanFs dry kisses and butterscotch candies  and moments like watching a kitten or listening to his mother play the piano at her house. As the balloons disappear  one yellow balloon remains caught in a tree  mirroring the childFs confusion about the event  which he mistook for a party.

In "Vox"  De Wilde explores a steadfast refusal to conform  with a protagonist wielding negation as affirmation. Amidst ancient calls of war and the incessant demands of society  they choose a path of resistance  finding strength in the relentless seas that surround and define them. Each plea and confrontation sharpens their resolve  as they navigate through exile  identity  and the echoes of their defiance.

In "French Knitting" by Elizabeth Hopkinson  a witch meticulously knits Rapunzel's hair each night  creating a giant golden cobweb that descends into a dark pit. For seven years  Rapunzel's hair has been woven into the earth  supposedly connecting her to the core of creation. Confined and contemplative  Rapunzel doubts the witch's intentions  believing instead that creation flows through her. As the witch knits  an unexpected figure rises from the pit  challenging the witch’s control and hinting at a deeper  transformative power within Rapunzel herself. This tale reimagines the Rapunzel legend with a mystical and introspective twist.

"On His Toes" is a beautifully written reminder of the complexities of human relationships and the dangers of romanticizing or idealizing a partner based on limited interactions or shared activities. It invites readers to reflect on their own experiences of love and attraction  the importance of communication and shared values in building a lasting relationship  and the role of personal growth and self-awareness in navigating the challenges of intimacy.

"A Shadow of Doubt" by Mary Jo Breen unfolds in a tender yet poignant exploration of aging  memory  and the thin line between the past and present. The story introduces us to Mrs. Taylor  an elderly woman grappling with the pains of aging and the haunting presence of a ghost she believes visits her at dawn. The ghost  with its "smug smile " seems to torment her with its silent presence  raising questions about the unresolved issues or memories Mrs. Taylor might be struggling with.

"Water" by Ian Butterworth is Water is not just a story about dying; its a profound reflection on the complexities of human emotion  the tangled relationships that define us  and the quest for peace and love in the face of the inevitable. It invites readers to contemplate the depths of their own psyche and the nature of their relationships  making it a compelling piece for anyone interested in the intersection of psychology  spirituality  and the human condition 

James Claffey

John S Fields

Joseph Cordaro

Explore the delicate dance of decision-making in "Fleeting Laziness in Birds & Catching Myself Being Selfish" by Nonnie Augustine. A narrative blending nature's simplicity with human emotion  through the lens of doves contemplating a new home amidst hidden dangers.

Explore the depths of long-term relationship dynamics through Holly Day's 'What There Is To Lose.' The poem delves into the fear of disinterest leading to loss  weaving a narrative of love  insecurities  and the lengths we go to keep connections alive.

Holly Day's 'The Beast at Your Side' explores the transformation of self in relationships. Through vivid imagery  it contrasts solitudes' freedom with the intimate  identity-shifting power of love  highlighting the complexities and sacrifices of companionship

Bill West

William Blake

evie robillard

"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.

"Write this down -- you are a bitch. One might say a Constance bitch."

Olivia

This prose poem captures the essence of Jackson Pollock's art. His art is a pure  natural expression  a testament to the unwritten history of America  challenging conventional boundaries and igniting the imagination. The poem emphasizes Pollock's unrestrained artistic vision  defying justification and continually evolving  much like the mythical Atlantis.

This poem poignantly captures the lingering taste of a lost love through the metaphor of morning coffee. Each sip washes away the remnants of last night's dinner  but the memory of their past lover's taste persists  highlighting the enduring impact of love and loss. The simplicity of the imagery makes this a relatable and evocative piece.

This evocative poem by Ronald E. Shields reminisces about childhood in the 1960s. The poem vividly recalls the pretzel cart  the Good Humor ice cream truck  and Johnny the donut man  capturing the essence of a simpler time. It describes boys catching squirrels  playing stickball  and learning to "duck and cover" in school. As the world begins to change  ...

"Promise" offers a poignant reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of hope and renewal.

Through the Eyes of a Child: the power of art and poetry to communicate universal truths across time and space.

Robillard's moon is presented as a source of endless creativity and inspiration  the "symphony with just enough notes " suggesting that  in its mystery and beauty  the moon is a metaphor for the ideal expression of art and knowledge.

Little Britain by Washington Irving

A teen at the mall  her vibrant style illuminated as she texts dreams and smokes under the star

Amidst an insect swarm  people pray together under a liquid moon  awaiting their fate.

The Darkling Thrush
by Thomas Hardy (Classic)

I leant upon a coppice gate
When Frost was spectre-grey 
And WinterFs dregs made desolate
The weakening eye of day.
The tangled bine-stems scored the sky
Like strings of broken lyres 
And all mankind that haunted nigh
Had sought their household fires.

In Pursuit of the Intangible
Poetry Editorial by Oonah Joslin

The Hosting of the Sidhe
by W.B. Yeats (Classic)

A Christmas Sermon
by Robert Louis Stevenson (Classsic)

A teen at the mall  her vibrant style illuminated as she texts dreams and smokes under the star

Amidst an insect swarm  people pray together under a liquid moon  awaiting their fate.

Standards by Wendy Howe

Cloud Feast by Mari Fitzpatrick

Buddhas of Bamian by Arthur Callender

Lonely as a Clown by Mike Lewis

Time to shine by Lesley Timms

The Day is Done by H W Longfellow

Reading in Bed by Digby Beaumont

Ed’s Wife and Other Creatures by Vanessa Gebbie

Ancestor by Jim Boring

The Witches Grace by Nonnie Augustine

Dance of the Dead by Maureen Wilkenson

Issue Art Wall

Christmas Present by Marie Shields

Dog Days of Christmas by Marie Shields

Christmas Morning by Martin Heavisides

Sleeping with the MonkïÂ�Â�sh: The Execution by John C. Mannone

Dreaming of Elsbeth  Alexander Lang

Ashwini Alli  Peter Vilbig

"Simple Tilly" is not just a story about a young girlFs encounter with love and betrayal; it is a reflection on the strength of the human spirit in the face of lifeFs adversities. It speaks to the universal themes of love  loss  and the search for belonging

Learning to Fly by Anne Collisn is a reflection on the strength of the human spirit in the face of life's adversities. It speaks to the universal themes of love  loss  and the search for belonging and acceptance.

Blizzard by Nonnie Augustine

Cold  Cold Heart by Jim Haughey

Walters captures the essence of a moment suspended in time  where the grandeur of the Grand Canyon in winter mirrors the depth and beauty of a shared love.

"Out of Rock! NOW" is a powerful piece that delves into the complexities of human relationships  the hard work of building a life together  and the pain of seeing shared dreams crumble.

Walters' poem is a tribute to the power of nature  history  and human connection. It invites readers to reflect on their own journeys and the landscapes that hold significance in their lives.

Through its evocative imagery and emotional depth  "Flight 103 to Lockerbie: Happy Anniversary" captures the complex interplay of personal and collective memory  the beauty and violence of nature  and the enduring impact of loss.

*#4*
by Neil Dyer

An Old Friend
by Mike Blake

Taken by Hand  Heart and Storm
by Ernest Williamson III

The Pugilist
by Carla Martin-Wood

Art Galley
Summer 2008

Untitled 11
by Michael Constantine McConnell

Classic: The Swan Song by Anton Chekov

Gallery Archive
Images: Russell Bittner
Carol Mannheim
Mari Fitzpatrick

Dreaming of Elsbeth

Ashwini Alli

Morphane Tree

Flashlight’s Jewels

Weaving Dreams

Persephone

Blue Walls

Marty-s Career

Daffodils in a Blue Vase

Trio

Book Two: Indigo

The Crafts

Patrick

Augustine

Murray

Vanishing point

Cold Fish

In Time

Wabi Songs

The Pugilist

Stewart

Commemorating the life of the German painter Johannes Matthaeus Koelz  who after winning a medal of gallantry in the Great War went on to defy Hitler and to become an anti-war campaigner... by Dave Taylor

Citrine

The Music Box

1970

Hearing Dogs by Liz Haig

Fear and Loathing in Southwark by Bill West

Gingerbread  An Everyday Poem

Gifts For The Residents by Paul Murray

Human Noise by Bruce Harris

Best Brewed Plans by Lydia Fazio Theys

Fable of the Fortieth Sheep by Rumjhum Biswas

The River Thief
"'The two of us ' she'd say  "partners to the end " the crochet needle at a small and quick twist in her hand  or a sewing needle making code against her finger"

Photophobia
"His voice seeped up brittle from under the rubble of covers; maybe she should have waited longer. Damn earring wouldn’t go in the hole. She sat down and squinted into the dresser mirror  not wanting to risk opening the curtains yet."

Mr. Wyandotte
"One Friday morning as I sat at my office computer trying to enter progress notes and demographic data (but really mostly just listening to Franz Liszt on YouTube) I got a call from a policeman in Upper Bucks County."

Camlin

Paradise

learning to fly

Her

Absence By Gloria Garfunkel

Merry Christmas from Lily Pond in Saugus Town by Tom Sheehan

Crow

Precious

Art Gallery

Our Grandson Seeks the Snow and His Mother in Milwaukee

Equus & Anima

Lough Reflections

Rare Glimpse by James Claffey

Magic Mirror by Nathan E.Tavaras

Rosie and Max by William Ogden Haynes

Executive sweet by Mathew Paust

Summer '08

Autumn '08

Yule '08

Commemorating the life of the German painter Johannes Matthaeus Koelz  who after winning a medal of gallantry in the Great War went on to defy Hitler and to become an anti-war campaigner... by Dave Taylor

From our
'Everyday Poems Page'

Gingerbread
The Day is Done
Who Goes with Fergus?
Strange Meeting
The Darkling Thrush
A Pint of Plain is your only Man
Go and Catch a Falling Star

The Man in the Wet  Gray Fedora by Jim Parks

Gil by Pepe Nero

The Boy by Yvette Managan (Flys)

Lisa J. Cihlar

Falling Pearls

The Red Couch

Sweet Cotton

Branded

The River Thief
"'The two of us ' she'd say  "partners to the end " the crochet needle at a small and quick twist in her hand  or a sewing needle making code against her finger"

Photophobia
"His voice seeped up brittle from under the rubble of covers; maybe she should have waited longer. Damn earring wouldn’t go in the hole. She sat down and squinted into the dresser mirror  not wanting to risk opening the curtains yet."

Mr. Wyandotte
"One Friday morning as I sat at my office computer trying to enter progress notes and demographic data (but really mostly just listening to Franz Liszt on YouTube) I got a call from a policeman in Upper Bucks County."

Gifts For The Residents by Paul Murray

Human Noise by Bruce Harris

Best Brewed Plans by Lydia Fazio Theys

Fable of the Fortieth Sheep by Rumjhum Biswas

The Horseman by Gary Cadwallader

Deities at an Exhibition by Martin Heavisides

Uncle Stan by Mary Baader Kaley

Pillow by Teri Davis Rouvelas

Our Grandson Seeks the Snow and His Mother in Milwaukee

Equus & Anima

Lough Reflections

Korean Echo

Fresh Start

Haunting

Rare Glimpse by James Claffey

Magic Mirror by Nathan E.Tavaras

Hiding

Nesting Dolls

Amy in the Dark

The Daunt Diana

Memories of a Winter's Day

Aubade to Marit Haahr

Keep

Manifesto

Memory of a Winter-s Day

Batshit Crazy

Trio

Daffodils in a Blue Vase

Collision

Buenos Aires: A Literary City

Ed's Wife and Other Stories

Is a whimsically poignant collection of vignettes that blend elements of the mundane with the magical  giving us insight into Ed's life with his shape-shifting wife  Suze.

Inniscrone

Is a rich tapestry of images and thoughts that beautifully captures the interplay between the external environment and the internal musings of the speaker

Eden

Explores themes of resilience  transience  and the bittersweet beauty found in places shaped by both natural forces and human hands.

The Old Field House

Things from Life in the Death of a Man

illustrations: Federico Garcia Lorca  5 June 1898 - 19 August 1936

"Promise" offers a poignant reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of hope and renewal.

Through the Eyes of a Child: the power of art and poetry to communicate universal truths across time and space.

Robillard's moon is presented as a source of endless creativity and inspiration  the "symphony with just enough notes " suggesting that  in its mystery and beauty  the moon is a metaphor for the ideal expression of art and knowledge.

Patrick

Augustine

Murray

Beatrices Behemoth is Bothersome and Backbreaking

Falling Man

Filburt Gets his Formula Half Right

James Claffey

John S Fields

Joseph Cordaro

Jim Boring

Marie Fitzpatrick

Maureen Wilkenson

Bill West

William Blake

evie robillard

Alexander Lang

Peter Vilbig

John S Fields

Sundance Review  The Dead Returns

Moon Library Broom Lending/Indigo

Popeye at 80

Dawgs will be Dawgs  Deputy dawgs and....

Ego  Egat  Egod.... eeeeeeeeeehhhhhhhhhhhh

"Write this down -- you are a bitch. One might say a Constance bitch."

Olivia

Crow

Precious

Art Gallery

British Guy

The Dice are Not to Blame

Jamie's Song

Blessings X1 V by Anne Whitehouse

Under a Dirty Moon by Avital Gad-Cykman

Spa Tour by Stefanie Freele

Repossession

1970

The First Time the Son was Ever on TV

You Have Grown In Stature by Noeleen Kavanagh

Sunny's First Fellini by MD Kempis

Houndstooth and Lucky by Digby Beaumont

In Conversation: Ramon Collins and Randall Brown

In Break Formations by Donal Mahoney

So We Decided to Keep by Lisa Cihlar

The Sunday Special

Summer storms . . .

The Cellist’s First Date

Lonely as a Clown by Mike Lewis

Time to shine by Lesley Timms

The Day is Done by H W Longfellow

Marty-s Career

Daffodils in a Blue Vase

Trio

"I am the viridian swell and the vermilitm tempest. I am surly beast and have will to rectify murder: my death and other happenstance makes for ironu with miniatures painted without sight in a golden locket never opened and not lost memories of those centuries before whatever instant diseased and bent with pock marked face to how anger stalls without any pleasure or even the protest of strangled fowl. You can watch my stance without eyes and make me move without legs as I am only flood and tempest unbounded my schemes ser down as blasphemed physic and truth."
John Colman (1580-1664)

Josef von Sternberg's meticulous approach to film composition and his collaboration with the iconic Marlene Dietrich truly left a lasting mark on cinema history. The way they brought out the screen's glow in "Shanghai Express" is indeed remarkable  and Dietrich's portrayal of Shanghai Lily is iconic.

Summer '09

Fall '09

Yule '09

Arnold crafts a narrative that challenges traditional gender norms and highlights the evolving nature of parental love and expectations.

A literature professor  Sidney  is visited by an enigmatic knight in her classroom  blurring the lines between her love for fiction and reality. As their silent bond deepens  his sudden disappearance propels her into a decision that forever alters her life.

The universal desire for safety and peace  and the profound impact of empathy and understanding in addressing the challenges faced by migrants and refugees around the world.

Early Thoughts On The Oedipus Complex by Rebecca Coffey

Dancing All The Steps I Know by Pepe Nero

No Such Thing as a Free Tea by Jennifer Stakes

Hearing Dogs by Liz Haig

Fear and Loathing in Southwark by Bill West

Gingerbread  An Everyday Poem

Wendell Tomlin  Jr

Ann Walters

Nancy Norton

Weaving Dreams

Persephone

Blue Walls

The Language of Frost

Sweet Talk

Be Sure Your Sins

Vampires  Ghosts  the Dead returned
by Yvette Managan

Carnal Knowledge
by Stan Long

I was nine and my sister seven  and we were walking home from the dam that was a favourite haunt of mine  where moorhens nested and herons fished and where will-o-the-wisps coiled over the marshy ground on damp evenings. Visiting with her grandma with whom I lived  she had asked to go with me to see the dam during that late afternoon in the summer of the war when all the young men had been conscripted and both town and countryside were empty of them.

My Lady Adair
by A Jefferson Brown

When I was a child  the month of October was always the greatest time of year. Even though school was back in session  we had the State Fair in the beginning of the month and Halloween to bring in November. In between the two  there was always some harvest festival or other going on at one of the local churches. For me  a poor boy in a small town in South Carolina  October was as fun as summer break.

Necromancy
by Karen Jones

Four(teen)-letter Words

Nolens Volens

What Warmth Is There in One Old Tree?

This Rain That Wears No Raincoat

"Simple Tilly" is not just a story about a young girlFs encounter with love and betrayal; it is a reflection on the strength of the human spirit in the face of lifeFs adversities. It speaks to the universal themes of love  loss  and the search for belonging

Learning to Fly by Anne Collisn is a reflection on the strength of the human spirit in the face of life's adversities. It speaks to the universal themes of love  loss  and the search for belonging and acceptance.

Vow
by Carla Martin=Wood

Ta gra agam duit  mo run

When I die/it shall be with/your name on my lips/the last word/I speak into/earth's air and that name/I shall bear upon/my tongue/and it shall go/with me into/what comes after

And when I board/that dark barge/and my soul speaks/its first word to/the grim boatman/that name shall fall/from my lips/and it shall be/ the coin that pays/my passage

The Smell of Salt
by Loretta Sylvestre

Ginny escaped north over a four-lane stretch of U.S. Highway 99. The sun hung low in the west and the roadbed shone  stretching across the flats like a river of red. She drove a nineteen fifty-six cream lacquered Chevy Belair. Only five years old and still perfect  the car flew through the miles and kicked up a wind that lifted Ginnys brown curls and cooled her neck. That rushing air brought welcome relief from the heat that  despite autumn and oncoming night  flooded the desert.

The Cellist’s First Date by Marja Hagborg

Nesting Dolls by Carly Berg

Major Works of fiction

Beauty and the Beast

Buenos Aires: A Literary City

personal history

This section of the website displays original illustrations and details their use in various literary contexts. For more information and to view the artwork  you can visit the page by clicking on the imagge. Thanks!

Hostovsky writes about the allure of poetry and the arts  and how they can inspire us to make choices that might not seem logical but are deeply appealing to our sense of beauty and romanticism.

'My Crow' by Changming Yuan. It beautifully captures the emotions of loss and the fleeting nature of relationships.

'Sunflowers' is a reflective and contemplative poem that encourages readers to ponder the mysteries of existence and the limitations of human perception

'Short Shrift' by Sheila Black is a beautiful and evocative poem that captures fleeting moments and observations in a vivid and contemplative way.

The Goatherd’s Fingers" is a masterful piece that uses detailed and evocative imagery to depict the life of a goatherd in a way that is both realistic and poetic.

Ocean's Alive is a perfect blend of nature's might and delicate balance  the poetry encapsulates the essence of the image in rich  immersive colors.

A Gentle Heart (Obit)

"I would lie in bed watching her morning ritual with a statuette of Buddha looking on as well. This would begin with greetings by birds chirping in her garden on bushes of red and yellow exora  hibiscus flowers  graceful palms  butterflies  and clay figurines of ducks and elephants. Her bed was right alongside a window to the garden and the curtains were never drawn."

Forecast For Interstate 81
by P. W. Murray

South  U.S. Highway 11  1960.
Duff’s Rebel Restaurant 
breakfast in Winchester and supper -
if all goes on schedule - near Pulaski.
Hills to our right -
â€�“â€Â� jingle bell  jingle bell 
jingle bell rock "

wipers click and wipers clock.
Ears to the radio  eyes to the
billboards  a signs calls out
for a diner - â€�“Listen there - if we were
still up in Carlisle  Hagerstown or
Martinsburg we’d be butt-deep in
snow." Pop knows. Here it’s just
cold slop  a little sleet but cold
assaulting rain  mostly. A diner
with dingy motel's light glows ahead.
"Rockin' around the Christmas tree
at the Christmas party hopâ€Â� ."

Childhood Portrait
by Howie Good

When the old mare collapsed
between the shafts of the milk wagon

and the wagon driver leaped
to the ground cursing

the tallest trees leaned forward
as if to better see

my teachers call the house
your son they said

too young to wonder
what’s worse as I was punched

in the head and slapped
the anger of the man slashing at it

with a whip or its wish
to get up again and go on

i picked at a scab today
by Casey Quinn

an old wound
long forgotten

it was just there 
healing

nature 
taking its course

but i
didn't let it.


i picked at the scab
and it bled

and the process was forced
to start over again.

Water Cycle
by Oonah V. Joslin

Wood
waterlogged 
slippy with ice and moss
the fence
frozen this morning 
stream of steam swirls
clawing upwards
vaporous cloud
cools  cascades
flows back to
ground  soggy
beneath berried yew
to be sucked up
brackish again by
wood.

my niece by Casey Quinn

"i had not

seen her in years i told her ..."

Feeding Ducks by Jim Hatfield

As I tore and cast upon the water half a
loaf of Mothers Pride  he advised that feed-
ing ducks was now a crime  punishable by a
statutory fine.

Armstrong by Martin Heavisides

"I was tellin’ about the time when I was a little bitty boy in my mother’s hometown of Boutte  Louisiana. I was about five years old  cute little ol’ thing  too. Mayann  my mother you know  she said to me one morning  â€�“Son  run down to the pond and get a bucket of water for your mama." And I cut out for that water  and Mayann dug me when I come back without the water and poooh  boy! She said  â€�“Boy  where is that water?" I said  â€�“Well  mama  there’s a big old rusty alligator in that pond and I didn’t get that water." She said  â€�“Oh  boy  go get that water. Don’t you know that alligator is scared of you as you are of him?" I told her  â€�“Mama  if he’s scared of me as I am of him  that water ain’t fit to drink."
As quoted in Gary Giddins  Satchmo

â€�“Roses are red
Violets are blue
Lucille’s are pink
I saw them on the clothesline"

The Ethos of Capital-isthmus By Russell Bittner

What pay is this? Some chit now
long past due to get us roundly up
and out the door 
to squeeze a measly buck  redound a score 
then shuck  to gutted towns  our shell-
shocked crew? Like hell you'll clear us
out and push us through  demanding 
time-cards swiped  we quit the floor
and not-like peevish children-
scream for more  but take our bul-
lied selves elsewhere for brew! I
tell you  China's coast is far from
clear;
and China's sum of us is no less dim.
So go now-take your cash where
it may still win hearts and minds
not scarified by beer and will  no
doubt  find skillful hands to trim
the scrim of your next threadbare  off-shore thrill.

The Irritating Stiffie by Dennis Leppanen

I wouldn't have considered Harley Burgess as a matrimonial conquest. Not even a slightly remote possibility. You see  Pa hung himself the morning before Harley came around. My brother  Russell  two years my junior  built the casket while I dug the hole. Wished he would a found him  though. Pa’s face was purple hanging there  almost black. The move to the west had been especially cruel on Pa. A gentleman he was  a western farmer  he wasn’t.

I had turned nineteen  in the middle of the prairie  a randy woman in the middle of nowhere. Harley Burgess was pushing thirty  if not over the brink. Russell and I were busy packing up our meager belongings. Meager? After years living out east in near royalty. What we had become. The old farm in the middle of nowhere killed Pa. We decided to get  while the getting was good.

Sanctuary by Julie Innis

In Conversation: Russell Bittner and Marie Fitzpatrick

Jenny's Secret by Mimi Rosen

Rummaging by Roland Goity

Frontierland by Norah Piehl

Pa did not like a country so old and worn out that the hunting was poor. He wanted to go west. For two years he had wanted to go west and take a homestead  but Ma did not want to leave the settled country.
--Laura Ingalls Wilder  By The Shores of Silver Lake



Carl found a condo with a view of the Empire State Building  but imagined bunking down under the stars. He fell asleep each night to a recording of wind rustling prairie grasses  crickets marking time  coyotes ominously keeping watch  their distant howls drowning out the cab horns and the guy who stood outside the Herald Square Hotel screamingly exhorting tourists to turn back  repent before it was too late. Sometimes Carl fancied the buses cruising down Lexington were prairie schooners under sail  on their way to boroughs yet unknown.

He discovered Charlotte at Whole Foods. Her basket held New Jersey tomatoes and organic onions  whole-wheat flour  brown rice  a basil plant to place on a sunny windowsill. She studied a shrink-wrapped package of mushrooms  turned to him as casually as if they had been shopping together for years. â€�“These come from Pennsylvania " she said. â€�“Do you think that’s okay?" He knew exactly what she meant  even before she spoke again. â€�“I want to make my own spaghetti sauce " she said  â€�“but there’s no such thing as a locally-grown mushroom  not here  anyway." Her freckled face shone pale under her broad sun hat.

The replica cabin was a rest area by the side of the Wisconsin highway  an afterthought for most  a convenient place for passersby to empty the McDonald’s wrappers from their car  to buy a pop  take a crap  and--oh yeah--to snap a picture in front of that first Little House.

Art Gallery 2010

Theresa Defused by Frank Dineen

Failure by Susan Teppen

Snails on the Road by Rebecca Burns

THERE WERE SNAILS ON THE ROAD to the tapas bar. They had oozed over from a scrub of undeveloped land beside the main street into town. Grandma shouted a warning from up ahead  shading her eyes as she turned back to face us  squinting into the sun. But Mum didn’t swerve to avoid the little creatures littering the road. Instead they were crushed under the wheels of Toby’s buggy as Mum pushed him straight on; their shells disintegrated with tiny pops that reminded me of the gravel on our drive at home  churned up into a sharp spray by spinning wheels.

Mum’s jaw was set  and I couldn’t see her eyes behind the dark glasses she’ d worn all week. I tried not to think of the snails’ soft bodies being pulped into the concrete.


It was early evening but the heat was still stifling. We’ d sat around the pool for most of the morning with Grandma whilst Mum slept in the villa. Grandma was strong and had easily held Toby in the shallow end  letting his twisted legs float to the surface in a way that delighted him. He squealed and drooled  thrashing his head from side to side  soaking us both. But we didn’t mind. It felt good to see him so happy.

Barataria Bay
by Nonnie Augustine

Camlin
by M.V.Horan

learning to fly
by Wilmonte Johnson

Her
by Mike Berger

Shapeshifting
by Gemma Meek

Butterfly Service

There were butterflies
dancing against the light 
the stained glass of Jesus
changing them into shadows.

Commas

A grandmother now  she lives a life rife with careful pauses. A long-tailed calligraphy of fits and starts.

The Abyss of Human Illusion

Sometimes

Six Micros by Sheldon Compton

RESIDUE
The shell casing slow motions-skyward  drop-floats back to rye grass  brass in a tight coat of gunpowder. Many others  random as dandelions  are found by the sunlight  gathered  handed out to wilt between our fingers  in pockets. A cousin reminds us to wash with lots of soap after touching them. Lead residue. Still warm in our hands  the poison slow motions  too.

The Sick House by Michael C. Keith

The story about that creepy old house goes something like this. Almost two years ago all the kids that lived there got polio and one  a little girl named Sara  died. This drove her parents crazy and they disappeared with their two other kids  who were crippled by the disease. No one has heard from them since  and some say they went out into the Narragansett Bay on their dad’s small fishing boat and drowned during a storm  but no bodies have ever been found.

The Thief and the Baby by Townsend Walker

People sometimes talk about the peacefulness of fog. A morning wrap that calms. Obliterates time. Forgives.

Gino woke up late that morning. He'd had trouble sleeping. The robbery hadn't gone smoothly. There'd been someone in the apartment and he’ d been forced to deal with her. He shook off the memory  jumped into his blue coveralls and went into the kitchen.

A Painful Truth by Ethan Swage

No school today for Kyle Jagot  although he's not happy about it. He's scared to leave the bathroom  scared that if he ventures too far away from the toilet he may let go again-the sit-down kind.

Despite Kyle's objections  his mother barges in. He's wedged between tub and toilet  doubled over  rocking  crossed forearms pressed tightly beneath his belly. She dabs a moist washcloth to his forehead  asks him what other symptoms he has had.

Unexpected Bats by Ann Walters

To Pierce the Sky by Ann Walters

The Dancer by Ann Walters

Desert Roses  1994 by Ann Walters

January by Marie Fitzpatrick

White Out by Nancy Norton

In the Depths of Winter by Nancy Norton

THE MUDMEN by Mikal Hubber

Won't You Please Stand Up

Won't you please look up
to where that young girl
looks down hoping you'll
overlook weathered shoes?
You'll cross through the crowd 
through the breakers of dancers
to say she's the one that
you choose.

Won't you please stand up
and shake the shivered nerve
endings  into magnetic sounds
that young love understands?
She will know each new step.
She will sense your arrival.
She will reach out and lend you
her hand.

Won't you please step out 
through your young fellow dancers?
Lay her head to your shoulder 
hands gently in line.
You don't touch the floor
by means that escape you
as you'11 move in three
quarter time.


Won't you please stand up
and grant me my pardon 
as I leave you young men
so awkward you see?
My best hope's to hope
on your east-rising of manhood
that you'll be better dancers
than me.

-- 2008 Murray

All our Years

She leaves softly
the bed she makes for me 
sets the house in order before I wake.

On the table
places my meal without fuss 
tendering to me
as a good wife will.

Our needs met in order
as they rise 
she to mine and I to hers.
Those kindnesses

and all our years crush
to one moment
when her life goes out 
stops on the page.

In memoriam  sheets lie
crumpled
the table is not set
and flowers go dry
in the vase.

Island by Mark Dallingan


No breaking news
sky  sea and rock 
my islands meteorology.

No highway noise
but tidal ebb and flow 
for soft white sound.

No crowded streets
but rock pools brimming
with mussel  crab and shrimp.

-2008-Dalligan

Reading in Bed by Digby Beaumont

Ed’s Wife and Other Creatures by Vanessa Gebbie

real Hollywood outcalls

Kelly's Orchard

Hardball

I Am Being Everybody They Cried: Peter Barnes (1931-2004) by Martin Heavisides

Prologue


DIOGENES: I thought those who came after would be better. Wrong! What can the comforting deceptions of philosophy signify in the face of truth  which is always the same --nothing ends well. I should have studied emptiness  nothing  instead of virtue. The gods tried to tell me. One night I was huddled in my barrel  trying to sleep. The snow was falling outside and I heard the gods praising me for my discussion on emptiness  nothing. 'But I haven't said anything ' I told them. 'You haven't said anything as we haven't heard anything: that's true emptiness ' they replied. I should've studied emptiness and midwives should give up their calling; it's a crime against mankind to inflict life on another human being.

THE REAL LONG JOHN SILVER  pp. 50-51

"The Moon and The Stars"

Credo

As a psychologist  I have seen 1000/attempts to avoid responsibility for/a troubled child./"It's a chemical imbalance; it's the schools;/it's the medication; it's uncle Harry."

The Dragon

When you first told me about/the dragon tattoo  I didn't/believe you were preppy 101 /clean cut in your wool sweater/and dockers. I wasnFt sure/I wanted to see your legs /lean and pale;

Musings chanced upon in the quiet of Inniscrone

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.

The New Man by Digby Beaumont

Harry's Bar by Nonnie Augustine

Mr. Wyandotte by Phoebe Wilcox

Photophobia by Niall Joseph

The River Thief by Tom Sheehan

Berenika

Yang Chu's Poem 86

The Game

an armed man lurks in ambush

Buenos Aires: A Literary City

personal history

A Gentle Heart (Obit)

"I would lie in bed watching her morning ritual with a statuette of Buddha looking on as well. This would begin with greetings by birds chirping in her garden on bushes of red and yellow exora  hibiscus flowers  graceful palms  butterflies  and clay figurines of ducks and elephants. Her bed was right alongside a window to the garden and the curtains were never drawn."

Fitzpatrick's prose invites readers into a world where past and present converge  where ancient gods still hold sway over the land  and where the timeless beauty of Egypt's landscapes is illuminated by both natural and artificial light.

"The Night of the Fox" leaves readers with a haunting reflection on the fragility of human relationships and the resilience required to navigate the unpredictable terrain of life.

The story beautifully captures the complexity of human nature  as Vitoria reflects on her past mistakes and the desire for validation and respect. Despite her past transgressions  she ultimately seeks to redeem herself and prove her worth as a good person.

Ribs of sunken galleons

Sam and Frank--Old Friends

Russian roulette

Cold  Cold Heart by Jim Haughey

No estaba seguro de cuanto tiempo habia estado el cuerpo all. Una  tal vez dos semanas. El olor se habia asentado tan intensamente en el dormitorio que  aunque se quedÃÂ� alli solo unos minutos cada vez  estaba asombrado de lo profundamente que el olor invadia la tela de su ropa. El olor de los organos atrofiandose. Los globos oculares se convirtieron en pequeÃÂ�os orbes de gelatina gris mate.

The sun was just rising in West Central Minnesota  brazing the horizon a magenta color as upkicked dust lilted behind a Chevrolet truck that rumbled down the long gravel driveway. The truck pulled onto a paved county road that reached out for miles on an even plain. The only signs of civilization outside of Jay’s passenger side window were the railroad tracks running parallel to the road and the high-voltage power lines off in the distance--giants standing above the wheat and corn and beets. Tyler  Jay’s cousin and a year his junior  flipped on the radio.

The art wall from Spring 2013 features various artworks  including pieces by notable artists like Abanindranath Tagore and Jessie Wilcox Smith  as well as works by Paul Klee. This collection showcases a range of artistic styles and subjects  reflecting the diverse creative expression of these artists. For a detailed view of the artworks and more information about the artists  you can visit the page directly by clicking through.

Bill on the Hill captures the essence of a winter day  where the main character  Carrie  is engrossed in the simple joys of sledding and experiencing the first flutters of childhood romance.

Claffey's writing in this short piece demonstrates a remarkable talent for capturing complex emotions and creating vivid imagery as he intertwines the themes of loss  grief  and the relentless passage of time i

A Brief Encounter by Lisa Cihlar

The wolf at my door asks to use the telephone. Seems the radio collar around his neck won’t tune in to his favorite Jazz and Blues station any more.

Dennis Mahagin: ...Semi Embittered Lifetime AA Batter

n the dugout I listened to a hell/of a lot of Muddy Waters.
There was this one/old blue oil drum/where bushers spit their/bubble gum and tobacco/chew  gave off a cologne/like pot/roast prepared/mostly to fool you.

Kafka's narrative leaves us with questions about the nature of authority  the pursuit of knowledge  and the futility of waiting for external validation or answers.

It's wonderful piece that invites reflection on life  death  and the enduring beauty that can be found even in the most unexpected places.

"Simple Tilly" is not just a story about a young girlFs encounter with love and betrayal; it is a reflection on the strength of the human spirit in the face of lifeFs adversities. It speaks to the universal themes of love  loss  and the search for belonging

Learning to Fly by Anne Collisn is a reflection on the strength of the human spirit in the face of life's adversities. It speaks to the universal themes of love  loss  and the search for belonging and acceptance.

"Smell of Rain" by Ramon Collins explores the reflective moments of Henry Jenkins  a former baseball champion  as he confronts aging  legacy  and mortality on his porch  amidst the backdrop of an impending storm and personal battles  encapsulating lifeFs transient beauty and inevitable changes

A humorous tale of a grandmother's struggle with tiny print on a medication bottle  reflecting on generational gaps  accessibility  and globalization. A witty exploration of aging in a modern world.

The story is a poignant reminder that sometimes  the most profound connections in our lives are those that cannot be neatly captured or preserved  but instead linger on the edges of our consciousness  shaping us in ways we may never fully understand.

Patrick's ability to weave together memories  emotions  and the symbolic power of water results in a narrative that is both touching and resonant  leaving a lasting impression on the reader.

Miller's succinct storytelling invites readers to reflect on the meaning of companionship  the evolution of relationships over time  and the ways in which individuals navigate the expectations placed upon them by society and themselves.

Augustine's reflections resonate. They not only affirm the value of poetry in personal and communal healing but also highlight the creative challenge of making poetry accessible and relevant to contemporary audiences. This editorial encapsulates the belief that poetry is not an esoteric art form reserved for the few but a fundamental aspect of human expression that connects us all  from the youngest child to the seasoned artist.

Collins' view that micro and flash fiction are here to stay is reflective of broader trends in content consumption. As people navigate increasingly busy lives and face constant bombardment by information from various sources  the appeal of concise  impactful storytelling that allows for quick but meaningful engagement is undeniable. These shorter forms of fiction offer a space for creativity and reflection that fits neatly into the rhythm of contemporary life  suggesting that they will indeed play a significant role in the future of storytelling.

Walters captures the essence of a moment suspended in time  where the grandeur of the Grand Canyon in winter mirrors the depth and beauty of a shared love.

"Out of Rock! NOW" is a powerful piece that delves into the complexities of human relationships  the hard work of building a life together  and the pain of seeing shared dreams crumble.

Walters' poem is a tribute to the power of nature  history  and human connection. It invites readers to reflect on their own journeys and the landscapes that hold significance in their lives.

Through its evocative imagery and emotional depth  "Flight 103 to Lockerbie: Happy Anniversary" captures the complex interplay of personal and collective memory  the beauty and violence of nature  and the enduring impact of loss.

Managan's use of vivid imagery and the progression from past to future create a layered narrative that speaks to the complexities of human emotions and relationships. The poem navigates through themes of guilt  beauty  mortality  and anxiety  leaving the reader with a sense of the profound impacts of our actions and experiences across time.

"You Went A Courtin" is a thought-provoking poem that skillfully blends historical  cultural  and personal elements to explore the depth of human experience. It invites readers to reflect on their own rituals  beliefs  and the mirrors through which they view themselves and others.

This piece delicately balances modern slang with deep emotional truths  encapsulating a moment of personal revelation with simplicity and depth. Brennan's choice of language and imagery evokes a sense of youthful naivety and wisdom  a reminder of the complex emotions that come with human relationships.

"Once I Wore a Red Bikini" beautifully marries the personal with the universal  reminding us that while our bodies and circumstances may change  the memories of who we once were and the moments we cherished remain intact  offering both solace and a bridge to our past selves.

Holland's poem captures the dualities within the canine world and our relationship with it: the domesticated versus the wild  control versus freedom  and companionship versus utility.

"Weathervane" by Tiff Holland is a powerful and vividly imaginative poem that delves into the themes of coping mechanisms  the quest for mental silence  and the struggle against overwhelming internal noise. The imagery Holland uses is striking  blending the mundane with the fantastical to illustrate the lengths one might go to in order to find peace and clarity amidst chaos.

Jacksons' opening lines  "Last year she was undoing a lifetime of knots  swimming in rancor under pods of mimosa " instantly set a tone of reflection and self-discovery

Through its rich imagery and contemplative tone  JacksonFs poem seems to suggest that in the constant flow of life and nature  there are moments of beauty and revelation  even if they are as transient as the riverFs course. It speaks to the heartFs capacity for wonder  pain  and ultimately  transformation.

Hart's metaphor "Just for old time's sake" and the comparison of aging to "rings in trees" are reflective moments that underscore the changing nature of life and the constants that remain�such as the desire to connect and the shared experiences that define a community.

Newman  a cardinal and theologian who converted to Catholicism  was a significant figure in the religious landscape of the 19th century. His relationship with Ambrose St. John was notably deep  often described in terms that today might suggest a profound  possibly platonic  love.