From the Archives

Her Life by John Grey

Her Life She’s a teenage beauty in thrall to various males – so, when the important political announcement is made, she checks her cell phone again – when the Orca breaches the…

Between the Leaves by Aubrey Buck

The Smoke (Break) by John Riebow

The Smoke (Break) The sun danced through the swaying branches of the Serviceberry trees as the two young women plopped themselves onto a green bench, pulling cigarette packs from their purses. They…

R.I.P. Lucky Robert Pearlman by Brandon Jenkins

R.I.P. Lucky Robert Pearlman Robert Ian Pearlman was a statesman and prolific writer. He had spent the better part of forty-nine years telling stories of oppression, revenge, greed, dominance and ultimately, triumph.…

Wandering Alone by Linda Sacco

Wandering Alone I wander through the zoo alone, surrounded by animals. Over the heads of a family, beside a pram, I hear, “Don’t go wandering off!” I watch tiger cubs clamour for…

The Nuisance-at-First by John Gabriel Adkins

The Nuisance-at-First Powerline Andy is voice-strong, and he hand-dangles from black cables about twenty-nine feet away, yelling at you. And you can’t get closer—Andy and his cables are always about-twenty-nine feet away,…

Paw Prints in a Concrete Sidewalk by David Pring-Mill

Paw Prints in a Concrete Sidewalk The sun has reached its winter zenith, with shadows long, with gentle, creeping light. As I trudge, there is something immensely satisfying, seeing animal paw prints…

Gypsy Moth Summer by Patricia Flaherty Pagan

Gypsy Moth Summer All I really heard was “accident” and “your brother.” The music vacuum had clued me in that something was wrong. There was no Carole King, no Don McLean, not…

Battlefield National Park by Becky Marietta

Battlefield National Park When my teenage son shouts at me that I am “worthless” as his father retreats hastily behind closed lids, feigning sleep, (perhaps because he agrees), I flee, climb into…

A Sip of You by Scott Hotaling

A Sip of You As I take a sip of wine that I hope will blind me from my sins, I notice a man drowning himself in scotch and ask him if…

My Savior by Alex Doe

My Savior When I flunked tenth grade for the third time, my parents gave up on me. They kicked my ass to the curb with suitcase in hand, and I don’t blame…

Gravel Road by Mariell Stennes

Gravel Road The grumble of the engine, Louder as it comes towards me, Watching the neighbor boy, As he drives the old pickup, Down the gravel road, Down the dirt, And the…

Parrot on Her Shoulder by Carol Hamilton

Parrot on Her Shoulder We are old now though we only spoke of it in laughing tones You swore you would sit on your porch and watch the world pass by a…

Rituals by Carol Hamilton

Rituals They give our lives meaning we laughed to each other at sunset as we again raised the bear safe at timberline and suddenly realized no bear was likely at that altitude.…

The Start of Something by Mark Plummer

The Start of Something The last stains of night linger on the clifftops like an old bruise as Matt pulls the car into the layby. He cuts the engine and immediately there’s…

The Ruins by Alexandra Hinojosa

The Ruins Lucia’s eyes looked through the viewfinder at the green and blue contrast of the coast. The car window was rolled down. The wind tousled her hair. She stared, not daring…

How to Eat Cherries by Ian Stuart

How to Eat Cherries In a summer garden languidly. Piled in a blue bowl, sun polishing their gloss; the name’s soft consonants springs water in your mouth. Don’t hold it by the…

Side Effects by Ian Stuart

Side Effects Danger! This course of action may seriously damage your health! There are reports of dizziness, a spinning sensation in the early stages. You may become restless and irritable. Weight loss…

Man Hollowed Out Wooden Leg to Smuggle Iguanas by Ian Stuart

Man Hollowed Out Wooden Leg to Smuggle Iguanas I would have got away with it but for the noise – claws scratching at the wood, those genteel coughing sounds iguanas make. “One…

untitled by JR Vork

untitled tail wind skims her coast salty strength poetry