By T R Bates I feel like I’ve come to a small milestoneOr turning point in dealing withBarbara’s passing.Last Sunday morning wasA beautiful time for a bike ride,Up to the store for a few groceries whileSkirting a newly renovated park…
By: Ryan Quinn Flanagan Breaking into Song Instead of Houses No need for the skeleton key, the glass cutter,that dreaded ski mask in the darkwhile the family is away, or worse,when they are at home feeding cats withfaces more beautiful…
By: Ed Nichols Strange Dog I have a strange dog. She can talk when she wants to. Sometimes she says, “E Pluribus Unum” when we are walking. I ask her what is she saying. She doesn’t answer. She usually…
By: Aruna Subramanian The caged canarypreserved her wingsfor another day,when she couldspread her songsacross the blue sky.Days & nights flew bybehind the closed doors.She waits and waitsfor the dawnthat might recoverwhat lay beneaththe layers of dustbelonging to the ages,disappearing,forgotten,her desire…
By: Deogratias Kagali Malicious intents,All over the invitation,Bad be done right,Plan of evil must be laid. The invited pride clouded,Showing off a habit.Feet of fragile clay,Astray their path’s destination. Full of oneself,Made it even easier,For evil to conquer,Destruction be a…
By: Carl “Papa” Palmer Pleased with my brand new door lock knobs,chrome, smooth, tapered, anti-theft,no ridge to grasp with a coat hanger,I swing shut the door to my truckwith the keys dangling from the ignition. Knowing the doors are locked,I…
By: Melissa Graham I wait again.I am not your expectations.I wait for you to feel me, hear meI wait for you to seenot my hairnot my skinbut the soul that lives within.I am not unbreakableI am not replaceableSomeday you will…
By: Jim Brosnan Postcard from a Forgotten Town I wrote phrases,fragmentsof thought,so manymiles awayas I recalledtrain whistlesbreakingevening silenceand headlightson the nearbystretchesof highwaypassing overwinding hillsas I now watchlingering embersleapfrom a fireplaceas snowflakestumbleacross the lawn. ### Landscape of Reminders Sleet splattersthe windshieldof…
By: Douglas K Currier Residential care Day 99 Long-term residential care smells of death:incontinence, the odor of liniment, industrial disinfectant,moth balls, menthol, old clothes, meds,and the liquid, pervasive smells of the cafeteria.I already lack the small-motor skills to take pills….
By: Dr. Piku Chowdhury The crouching fluffy feline graceWould eye me with some carelessnessThe frisky fallow fright of sparrowIn my narrow harrowed pace.Constant feline surveillanceOn my stealthy subsistenceTrying to scrape some rhyme or senseOff the tacky correctness.Between kitty on the…