Issue 8
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C. McCann Liderbach, Smitten with Sea Turtles
Cora McCann Liderbach Smitten with Sea Turtles Follow me three fathoms down to cool Pacific twilight, where a leopard-spotted Hawksbillmeanders Maui’s Mother Reef,probes coral for floating flakes of one-time jellyfish or sponge, nibbles, and moves on. Watch her surface, pull enough air in her lungs to outweigh the seaand sink deep—hang motionless, flippers limp—till she…
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S. Laskin. Night life, Bonaire
Sarah Laskin Night Life, Bonaire No flashlights, just the full moon. No need to move, they’ll comewithin an inch of you. A shimmer broadside, a glint of scales,almost blinding – first tarpon of your first night dive! Sparks ofbioluminescence shoot from your fingertips when you point andgiggle, gurgle – there! there! a school of silver…
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E. McGrath Smith, Cool Jade Water
Ellen McGrath Smith Cool Jade Water She blithely stepped off the cliff,dropping into the cool jade water I loved.That was the dream, and shewas my mother. I jumped in after herand pulled her to a rope ladder. Hold on,I said from behind her, her frail bodydead weight against my chest. There were so many rungsheading…
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M. Benjamin Thorne, Archaeological Exhibit: 1980s Swimming Pool
M. Benjamin Thorne Archaeological Exhibit: “1980s Swimming Pool” Tab, mystery elixirand weight-loss tonicof decidedly un-hipster momsBugles, conic sarcophagiof mummified fingers freshfrom Marco Polo ritualsJellies, rainbow boatsto ferry fading childhoodinto adolescent afterlife Nominated for the Pushcart and Best of the Net, M. Benjamin Thorne is an Associate Professor at Wingate University. His poems appear or are…
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M. Benjamin Thorne, Promises of the 80’s
M. Benjamin Thorne Promises of the 80s I was told there would be flying carsand close encounters and cocoons;flocks of seagulls would rule the hairwavesas do chameleons our karma; Lisa Frank trapper-keepers would hostall my pastel-tiger fever dreams;and the Goonies always save Astoria.I am sorry to report that Historyhas called shenanigans and bullshit.Coke didn’t bring…
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S. Suzuki-Martinez, Memoir of a Water-Bearing Worker
Sharon Suzuki-Martinez Memoir of a Water-Bearing Worker There’s nothing more tragic than getting older but not wiser. I’m surrounded by bitter shriveled bitches. When you are as old as me, fifty days, you can speak your mind. But I’m a grub next to our mother, Phoebe, the queen. She’s been alive forever, at nearly five…
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T. Campbell, A Curious Powerful Fire
Tara Campbell A Curious Powerful Fire Tara Campbell is a writer, teacher, and fiction co-editor at Barrelhouse. Publication credits include Masters Review, Wigleaf, Electric Literature, CRAFT Literary, Uncharted Magazine, Daily Science Fiction, Strange Horizons, and Escape Pod/Artemis Rising. She’s the author of two novels, two hybrid collections, two short story collections, and a chapbook of…
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T. Campbell, The Breast
Tara Campbell The Breast Tara Campbell is a writer, teacher, and fiction co-editor at Barrelhouse. Publication credits include Masters Review, Wigleaf, Electric Literature, CRAFT Literary, Uncharted Magazine, Daily Science Fiction, Strange Horizons, and Escape Pod/Artemis Rising. She’s the author of two novels, two hybrid collections, two short story collections, and a chapbook of sestinas. Back…
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R. Turner, question an old notebook
Robin Turner question an old notebook of poems Robin Turner makes poems and poem-like things in Dallas. Her chapbooks: bindweed & crow poison (Porkbelly Press) and Elegy with Clouds & (Kelsay Books). Recent work appears in Anacapa Review, Unlost, and Pithead Chapel. She is a teaching artist currently working with writers from the Cancer Support…
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R. Turner, O rain
Robin Turner O rain Robin Turner makes poems and poem-like things in Dallas. Her chapbooks: bindweed & crow poison (Porkbelly Press) and Elegy with Clouds & (Kelsay Books). Recent work appears in Anacapa Review, Unlost, and Pithead Chapel. She is a teaching artist currently working with writers from the Cancer Support Community of North Texas.…