By: J.L. Smith America America a patchwork quilt, a coat of many colors, unravels at the seams. Frayed edges, bare in patches across its broad surface. Fabric squares, once crisp, cobbled from many origins, promised comfort for all who sought…
By: Cynthia Pitman The Girls of Summer Splayed on striped towels,strapped tight in polka-dot bikinis gritty with sand,sweating from the sweltering heatand burning a crispy-crust redfrom the hot beach light of the white-bright sky, we lined up side-by-side,one after another,as…
By: Marc Carver BEAUTY I found the most beautiful woman I have ever seen she sits perfectly still all white. Even without eyesshe looks right at me.That face could tame men even make fools of them if she wanted.How could…
By: JD Stofer Humanity Scandal and corruptionhorror in the news babies chokedburned animals in every way abusedwhile late night jesterstry to make sense of it alland moneyencapsulate the day to keep usall amusedWhat to think?What to do?What makes sense when…
By: Denny E. Marshall Science Fiction Tanka aliens decide too use earth’s flat screen TVs now can send message since digital conversion program interruption shock hike Pavonis Mons fourth largest mountain on mars peak not as well known higher than…
By: John Grey DESIRE ETERNAL Why did he want her? they wondered. He was prince of the realm and could have had anyone. Besides which, she was mortal. A shepherdess of all things. He was a strange one. Not like…
By: Alan Berger I awoke from a dream That was a past vision I was running towards a fence I remembered from prison Instead like before When I just did my time I sailed over that fence Like there was…
By: Wil Michael Wrenn Paradox SometimesI feel I could reach outand embrace life and squeeze it to death.SometimesI love life so much that the passion of it hurts deep inside,and the more I love itthe sharper the pain I feel,and…
By: K. Shawn Edgar Reconstruct Me First Rewriting a lover, rebooting his or her nature to match my anticipated path, to align to my projected echo pattern, that’s the biotechnology of modernity. Their quirks, jagged ills, or habits― unpleasant, I…
By: Mark Tulin In the Asylum I remember the voices in the asylum. The screams bouncing off the walls. Nurses dropping pills into paper cups. The aides rolling blood-pressure monitors down the halls. All the doors were locked, the windows…