White Washing History Against a Darkening Afternoon Sky $10,000 down Gets you in Your choice of Ranch or two-story In prestigious Nooning Tree “Is there one, a Nooning Tree?” “Of course,” the saleslady answers Loose strands of hair catching The corner of her mouth Like a lie Tempered by talk of tradition She motions; I […]
Read more "WHITE WASHING HISTORY AGAINST A DARKENING AFTERNOON SKY – KEITH HOERNER"Pause, Replay Whatever came after, evaporated in the afternoon sun. All I hear is the ringing of your words… “You are such a Bitch when”… pause, replay. Pause, replay the words crushing my spirit… Pause, replay as you justify letting it slip through your lips. “YEAH, you said that out-loud” cuts the air. […]
Read more "PAUSE, REPLAY – SUSAN MARTIN"October-sick The clueless response to dyinggets caught in the yellow puddle of lightfallen on my blue spring bedcovers.Shells, a mirror, a bus ticket, a shelterfor sinsAnd the torn bible next to the sage plant window.The little feeder eats the night, forgettingto breathe me out on some occasions.I have some uncertainties.I don’t even show my face […]
Read more "October-sick – Rachel Chitofu"The 10 Commandmentsof the 2022 Teen Creative Writing Clubof South Central New Mexico 1 anything can be poetry2 encourage others and be yourself3 things aren’t all black and white4 bad writing is better than no writing5 it’s not all about white men6 love your writing because it’s yours7 don’t forget this is a way out8 […]
Read more "The 10 Commandments of the 2022 Teen Creative Writing Club of South Central New Mexico"THE LIES ARE BEFORE THE FOOTHILLBy Melaina L. Mittel3rd place I want to tell you all a thing hereA tragic thing that defines my characterSomething that awakens even in dusk’s dawnSomething that can make an ego out of itselfSomething that can bring you and the others downAt the crack of daybreakSomething that defines my unfortunate […]
Read more "INAUGURAL KAREN TRUJILLO POETRY CONTEST – CLASS OF 2022 – THE WINNERS!"not time sheer walls exposed not time undid it full of horizon golden shouldered slot canyon an overlapped kaleidoscope each time reaction mirroring the previous before magnified undimmed the aftermath is goodbye it was beautiful ~ pond by the library in a matter of thirty seconds I saw a mink carry off a fish shelved […]
Read more "2 POEMS – JACK BUCK"Come Out of It Now look at the knots you knead between the next instant and its spinoffs, how they simmer soup behind your forehead. You are hooked to poke-fingered what-thens. So certain of them. You know every crisp moment surprises, yet there goes your breathing all thin again. Remember how firm you were in […]
Read more "COME OUT OF IT – DAVID P. MILLER"A retreat. the autumn each year smelled like old crates of apples. and winter the softness, a skin- wrinkled must. and the house was his passed-away uncle’s house next to an orchard; he had plans for it, he told us, through the smell of old fruit – it would make a perfect guest house; had […]
Read more "5 POEMS – DS Maolalai"We are pleased to present our next Poet to Notice: LANCE GAMBRELLHe never calls himself a poet and perhaps that’s the best kind. I’ve always been able to tell when reading his work that something special was going on. There’s a palpable longing and an honesty of spirit all spread out before us on the […]
Read more "the writings of the late LANCE GAMBRELL — AMERICAN HERO"Middle Age Folly Lurching hole-eyed and numb, he wondered if talking might help. Maybe he could regain their respect that way; he could show wisdom as the product of his experience. He rehearsed during wretched nights: “Did you ever look into a mirror and see something lower than dog shit?” He gripped sheets as fever […]
Read more "MIDDLE AGE FOLLY – MITCHEL MONTAGNA"
Cacti Fur 