Rosmarie Epaminondas – because he can

because he can This morning he touched my cheek with tenderness where he had bruised it last night. Didn’t notice the purple mark left by his rage. Then he gently closed the door. Each day I move ever deeper into my mind space, hug myself with insubstantial arms intent on healing the wounded me, build […]

TIM STALEY – LAST RITES OF A SHOOK MONKEY

Last Rites of a Shook Monkey for the Wharf Rats If this is preaching, it’s from the pulpit Jerry builtin rehab before his last breath. If this is preaching, it’s for those who reachedbetween the feetto pull the plugfrom Jim Morrison’s tub. If this is preaching, it’s for the familiesof the six who diedeaths of […]

Sarah Daly – After the Rain

After the Rain I glimpsed happiness, among the green leaves and damp grasses— the blades with their crystalline tears witnessed this joy, and partook in that brief, warm peace, which fades so rapidly.

JANE HIRSHFIELD – WITHIN THIS TREE

Within This Tree Within this tree another tree inhabits the same body: within this stone another stone rests, its many shades of grey the same, its identical surface and weight. And within my body, another body, whose history, waiting, sings: there is no other body, it sings, there is no other world. This poem was […]

JUDITH YARROW – MEDITATION: LISTENING

Meditation: Listening Listen. Nearby, water rushes through the hose, birds twitter in a bush. wind rustles leaves. Listen out farther. Crows cawing in a tree, hammers on a building site, distant dull roar of traffic. Listen for the sounds of clouds as they pile up, or scud along, or fold themselves into rain. Listen beyond. […]

A VOICE FROM UKRAINE – Vyacheslav Konoval – 3 POEMS

March 23rd Darkness, cold and water, the rain of the trenches of the bay, the shriveled fighter has lost a foot. Babakh gats there is an echo in the field, nature in winter hibernation, without flowers, everything is empty, everything dead, and not alive. Spring did not enter into rights having adoring spring never wait for […]

Bradford Middleton – WENT TO WORK FOR LUNCH

WENT TO WORK FOR LUNCH I went into work today & laughed as, for Once, everyone was pleased to see me. “Ah Brad,” one of them said, “it’s always Good to see you as that means my shift Is almost over!” “Yeah,” I replied, “the only problem is I Ain’t working today & do you […]

LAURA STAMPS – BETTER

Better The sky? Blue. Has to be blue. That’s what she wants. A blue-sky postcard. Okay. Found it. “Dear Elaine,” she writes. “So this morning. Pumping gas at Speedway. There I am. The rain is gone. (Can we all sing hallelujah?) Nothing but blue skies. The bluest of blue. Truly. And a warm breeze. That […]

Jimmy Pappas – Traffic Accident

Traffic Accident When I ask the copto let me know howthe truck driversitting by the sideof the road is doing,he tells me,“He saw their faces.” ~~~ find more Jimmy Pappas on Rattle

Sarah Henry – Born in the Year of the Snake

Born in the Year of the Snake I’m a snake with an office. It’s my hole. There I call many businesses to sell lots of oil. I have a pint-sized cactus with a pot and a filthy desk. I slide off at five. I’ve been devious and cold-blooded. I faked my charges for a trip […]

Cacti Fur

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