Issue 5
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W. D. Hubbard, Afterword
Wayne Hubbard Afterword for Mary Oliveri can say what i want, but the poems are no more accidental. their outlinesstay present, trailing me through each season,waiting for stillness to give life its chance.they teach me how to study the winter,how to note where the redbud leans forwardinto the frostbite, how the wild grass lets the…
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J. Prinsen, Seasons in the Sun
Jeannie Prinsen Seasons in the Sun Autumn road trip, New England woodsa crazy quilt spread before us. Heading home,we stopped for fast food – seventies popon the sound system, the two of us cry-laughing at the shallow lyrics, cheaprhymes like air, there, everywhere,Big Mac with a side of cheesy reverb.We were immune to pathos, swivelingon…
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S. Lang, Unprepared
Susanna Lang Unprepared The cold shouldn’t have taken me by surprise, but I’m not ready. Can’t find my mittens, my wool socks have last winter’s holes. Roses and snapdragons freeze to their stems, still in their summer colors. Gingkos drop their yellow leaves.I hear the cries before I see the swirling V’s— hundreds of wide-winged…
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D, McVey, Daniel McKelvie
David McVey Daniel McKelvie The organist played some slow Scottish psalm tunes. The congregation was a mixed bag, and many of them had hardly known Daniel McKelvie. Yes, there were some close friends and family, but their focus was more on the reading of the will, which was due next day. Many of the others…
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V. Premkumar, at therapy intake/amid
Vidya Premkumar at therapy intake she fills in a form asking where it hurtsshe writes ‘here’and points to the spacein between lines amid the long sentencesof migration a short pause on the wirewith wings folded Vidya Premkumar is a poet and educator known for her three poetry collections: Musing while Living, Living in an Indian…
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K. McDonald, Fort Story True Story
Kindra McDonald Fort Story True Story Content Warning: This piece references PTSD and military related sounds and language. Day after Veteran’s Day in this time capsule of a place, if not for the land the Army bought across a divided highway, a sanctuary that would have been miles, a maritime forest stretching all the way…
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J. H. Dracos-Tice, Back-to-School Pep Rally
Jennifer Hyde Dracos-Tice Back-to-School Pep Rally Musical chairs—pep rally fun—sounds mellifluous but is sonasty. One origin was a German game—“Trip to Jerusalem”— not enoughroom on boats for Jews trying to emigrate. 800 students and faculty watch the competition on the gym floor build as chairs disappear, kids fight to fittwo sets of hips betweenseat arms,…
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K. Lawson, making the call
Kirk Lawson making the call my dad needs a yearto overcome his angerson’s gay confessionI ask my husbandbefore his dad’s visitto share your storyyou complyyour dad’s simple questionare you happy? why not be the man on the moon always smiling Kirk Lawson lives in Ulster County, New York, and the Shawangunk Mountains. He enjoys poetry…
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J. Kolber, Bear Claw Break Point
Justin Kolber Bear Claw Break Point Content warning: This article discusses eating disorders, binge eating, and body image in detail. Don’t do it, Justin. But I need it. I was sitting in the parking lot of Dunkin’ Donuts in my rusted Toyota Camry filled with fast-food takeout containers, debating my order. I was an OB—original…
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A.C. Cambers, What the Birds Know
A.C. Cambers What the Birds Know Flamboyant birds flitthrough trees, singing sweet harmonies as I search for my scarf lost last December, when I used it as a blanket for an injured squirrel, who vanished with it before wildlife rescue arrived. If the birds know anything, they don’t say, only tease—Seek. Seek. A.C. Cambers is…