Hey There, Grandpa by Josh Huxtable (art by Heath Copper) Hey there grandpa, can I sit and talk? You use to tell me stories, that I’ve never forgot. You’d tell me about your war days. How it was hell on earth. You’d say it’d try a man to his core. But it’d reveal his worth.…
I Am by Kristina Gilbert (art by James Shipley) I am….. A Daughter, Sister, Cousin, Niece Wife, Mother, Granny, Aunt A Friend and Foe, Honest and True Quitter, Joiner, Cautious, Safe Reckless, Smart, Sad and Abused Needed, Cared for, Naïve and Used I am a Lover I am a Creator I am Beautiful I was……
The Other by Trygve Arneson (art by Savannah Crawford) My name is Timeran, my mom had made it up by adding ‘eran’ to her favorite name, Tim. I really dislike summer camping. Heat and humidity, bugs that bite or sting, bugs that bite or sting while hunting other biting stinging bugs. Insects that carry every…
Cognizance by Ti’ana Sage (art by Kaitlynn Robinson) My mind was racing from what I was facing— —tripping—slipping—as I flew through the night… If I’d only known—If I’d only been shown— —a breath of relief as the city came into clear sight… As I burst passed the droid in my escape from the void— —my…
The Dust by Deborah Haggard (art by Savannah Richardson) Perhaps you now live in a different world that I can’t reach because it’s a speck of dust. Maybe that’s what my world is too. A little piece of dust that you don’t exist in any longer. Maybe the universe is just made up of dust…
A Modern Marvel by Matthew S. Farmer (art by Jenny Judlin) A spectacle of man’s engineering Concrete, Cables, towering high we pledge our faith we pledge our trust we bring our family we bring our future A young couple drives across in their yellow car looking for lunch on the other side A single mother…
Allegiances by Lisa Livingston-Martin (art by Lacey Finchum) “Federal riders!” Willie yelled as he came through the back door, stopping in the hallway, hands on his knees, gulping air. Elizabeth looked at William and he nodded. Neither questioned whether their seven-year-old grandson was mistaken. Elizabeth turned to Elvira, “You take the children and hide.” Elvira…
Evadora’s Temptation by Grace S. Gage (art by Shannon Bacon) A turquoise thumb nail plunges past the cardboard tab of the wine box and assisted by the glittered nail of the index finger retrieves the spigot. A single twist, and the inky red wine pulsates into the stemless wine glass suspended by the other set…
The Great Disconnect (or caught in the Net) by Ron Davidson (art by Shelby Moore) When we look back at some of history’s greatest achievements, will we so fondly regard the “Net” as one of them? An idea of sharing infinite amounts of information across an interconnected network conceived by great science fiction writers and…
Layers by Lauri Lemke Thompson (art by Mary Arneson) The intricate design, yet naturally flowing beauty of a pink rose. Who thought of such a thing? Petals upon petals, overlapping. Such are these Ozark mountains When one overlooks their rounded shapes – Hazy blue hill upon blue hill, arranged with grace In layers, Like petals.…