Issue 8
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M. Sterling, In My Dreams the World is a Mango Flavored Orgy
Meghan Sterling In My Dreams the World Is a Mango-Flavored Orgy Last night I dreamt I was a Tigerlily, a yawning orange tongue knocking against the rigid tangle of chain-link fence. There was an ice cream stand where topless people handed out free gelato. Mango. Lemon. In the summer, I have to pull myself away…
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D. A Lee, The Bulletin Board
David A. Lee The Bulletin Board On the community center’s bulletin boardsomeone has tacked a photograph of a tabbyand a note: Lost. Answers to Mango.Below it, flyers for piano lessons,a block party, a missing bicycle.I think about the quiet placeswhere we hang our hopes:keys on a hook, wedding pictures,a half-mended sweater on a chair.A paper…
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L. Dremousis, Finches
Litsa Dremousis Finches On my decka hawk swoops down and grabs a finch in its talons, a cruel and naturalabduction.I scream:“NO!” The hawk leaves. The finch lives!I bring it waterand crushed nutsand breadcrumbson a saucer from my late grandmother.She always protected mefrom hawks and their talons. Litsa Dremousis (she/her) is the author of Altitude Sickness…
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M. Royer, Witness Protection
Meggie Royer Witness Protection Collin made himself a snack in the kitchen, a ham sandwich with kettle chips and caramel corn. Collin’s name had not always been Collin, but his father had told him to forget his previous name, that all children shed theirs early on. The blue sky rose through the half-moon window like…
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D. Webster, Handlebar Streamers
Diane Webster Handlebar Streamers On the bike’s handlebars streamersflap, clap in windlike a sprinkler cascading wateronto a dry lawn and soaking dirtawakens the smell of moisture;a peacock struttingfanned tail feathers,ohs and ahs;like fireworks radiatingmulticolored explosionsacross the night skystreamers twist,untwist, speedtickle my pumping knees. Diane Webster’s work has appeared in North Dakota Quarterly, New English Review,…
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B. K., Dandelion Wishes
Brenda K. Dandelion Wishes A perfectly puffed dandelion, released to the breeze with a breath. Wispy seedheads, little parachute wishes dressed in white—Barbie wish, freedom wish, Easy-Bake Oven wish, best friend wish, feathered bangs wish, mommy be okay wish, mommy be happy wishwishwish. Her mom, weeks later, on her hands and knees, pulling and cursing…
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V. Linet, Thumb
Valerie Linet Thumb Awkward on the dance floor at a party with ballerinas.Tree stump.Sturdy workhorse.Also, absent-minded page-turner and sacred mudra-maker.Maybe they envy your freedom.You appear agreeable enough when you stand up straight,but still— always in opposition,made for a life of tree-swinging, graspingand now texting.It was you who taught me Right from Left,made me feel powerful…
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C. Schwartz, Astronaut
Carla Schwartz Astronaut Hoping to drop in from the sky like Mary Poppins, blue satin umbrella hooked between my fingers,I was ready for takeoff, excited to show my friendwho lived across the street. As I took off, the steel grill of a Nova smacked my head, struck my ear, plunged me and my umbrella into…
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D. Narkevic, Fossils
Don Narkevic Fossils As kids, we dug at an outcroppingof gray slate looking for fossils,unearthing ferns that fanned outin search of a long-ago sun.We rubbed thumbs over the ribbedremains, a Braille for the languageof leaves relieved of their rustleand replaced by their stony silence.In my open hand I weighed the agesand questioned the impressionof my…
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B. Karren, Gravel Pit Exile
Benjamin Karren Gravel Pit Exile I feel an obligation to visit the old garnet dump truckpushed into retirement at the edge of the gravel pit.I often pat its corroded hood and picture its prime,vigorous paint and an eight-cylinder humming lullabiesnourishing a neighborhood with soil and concrete.Now long-lived with rust disintegrating its body,one of its headlights…