Issue 5
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J.K. Hare, Torchlight
J. Kramer Hare Torchlight Paths are blurred and boundariessoft in this landscape of cobwebs,smoke suffused. A scentI savor cautiously: to catchthat spice in a forest signalseither other people’s presence orimmediate danger. Sometimes both.To set a fire here—(noteI don’t say light)—to seta fire here may showmomentarily the glintof onyx of the spider’s orbed back,eight pinpoints markingeight…
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E. Gentle, What was it
Eirene Gentle What Was It Another heatwave. Don’t go out, they warn. Bolt doors, lock windows. Slam cracked lips on all that smoke and wind. It’ll pass. They say. Maybe. Until then, cage dry teeth. Snap when pressed. Crawl in the spice rack. Boil until flesh is white and flakes easily. Before this ash-tongue, before…
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A. Marcusa, The Last Pair of High Heels
Andrea Marcusa The Last Pair of High Heels While cleaning our basement, I found a pair of three-inch patent-leather heels resting under papers in a file cabinet. Elegant. Expensive. Forbidden. My hands shook. I could be arrested. No questions asked. Ten years ago, heels were banned. Men and women in blue-jean uniforms with Golden Age…
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J. Roberts, The Shape of a Leaf
Jeannie E. Roberts The Shape of a Leaf Jeannie E. Roberts’ artwork is highly stylized and inspired by the organic forms, shapes, and design elements found outdoors. She is also an author and serves as a poetry editor for the online literary magazine Halfway Down the Stairs. For artistic samples, please visit: https://jrcreative.biz/art.htm. Back to…
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J. Roberts, Oak, Your Quiet Strength
Jeannie E. Roberts Oak, Your Quiet Strength Jeannie E. Roberts’ artwork is highly stylized and inspired by the organic forms, shapes, and design elements found outdoors. She is also an author and serves as a poetry editor for the online literary magazine Halfway Down the Stairs. For artistic samples, please visit: https://jrcreative.biz/art.htm. Back to Issue
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M. Chester, Layers
Meredith Chester Layers An early fall morning finds me rocking on my wooden porch, redolent with foliage and the aroma of coffee. My robe radiates rich, warm base notes of paper perfume fragrance strips. Meredith Chester studied creative writing at Florida State University. She now writes from beautiful Chattanooga, TN, with the support of the…
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L. H. Ayers, Gratitude for What Is Seen & Unseen
Lana Hechtman Ayers Gratitude for What Is Seen & Unseen a haibunSudden moonlight slipping out of night sky’s sleeve of clouds. I want to name it foolhardy, but isn’t it something else? The mirror that holds your beloved’s breath after they’ve gone. The ladybug circling the glass of a sealed window. Lonely frog singing his…
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D. Brookshire, Rising Water Villanette
Dustin Brookshire & Kerry Trautman Rising Water Villanelle A contoured villanelle using “Little L.A. Villanelle” by Carol Muske-DukesWithout the threat of flood, I could learn to love the rain.Last fall, our neighborhood pond overflowed—rising, receding, and rising in seasonal refrain.We waded in water six inches deep, a pain-wicking cold up my shins. Cars sped past…
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J.K. Hare, Night Music
J Kramer Hare Night Music Our dishwasher is water tumbling over stone: a laminar, clear column, water smoothly breaksand clings to stone, polishing and polishing. Our dishwasher is a beehive near the waterfall:ever industrious, the laborers sing their labor’sdroning harmony, chorusing and chorusing.The waterfall and beehive (which together arethe dishwasher) hide around the corner fromour…
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K.D. Carter, What Helps
Karen DeGroot Carter What Helps With many thanks to Andrea GibsonCommunal grief. And wonder.Moments you’ve given yourself by heading out on that new path and spotting two deer, buck leading, doe lengths behind but intent,both beelining to a hidden thicketof comfort and care. I’ve seen many lately on hikes, I forgot or failedor just had…