Archived: The Nineteenth Alice by Adison Linder

Once upon a time, in a vast abyss, there was a dream. It was a small, insignificant dream, so much that the other dreams inhabiting the void ignored it completely. Nobody bothered to ask who dreamed it, or what it was. The tiny dream in question floated aimlessly in the corporeal darkness. It noticed as…

Archived: Last Dance by Nickie Medina

I remember the Animals knocking out the bluesy number “House of the Rising Sun.” I danced my last high school sock hop in our gymnasium just before graduation the next morning. My high school sweetheart and I circled the dance floor, totally unaware of what this night really meant. I would say good-bye to many…

Archived: Linger by Tony Park

  The moon whitened the tallest tree, as the north wind bathed it in a sweet chill, whispering, “Weave just a short time like the mortals do.”

Archived: Mr. Magpie by Tony Park

I certainly understand the exaltation of larks, but what about the pitched past pitched panegyric of magpies? Oh such a scurrilous chorus of well served scorn aimed at the world around them.   And I can tell you it’s not a dark drop of devil’s blood under their tongue, but a blue map to the…

Archived: Merely Lies by Loren McAllister

“I barely even know the woman! How would I know where she is?” I never thought in a million years I would be sitting in an interrogation room. Surprisingly, it looked exactly like those rooms you see on Criminal Minds. It was musky and dark with grey walls, one long white table, and an extremely…

Archived: Compromise :: Chelle Costello

Read the subtext: I’d leave you for a horizon Bright enough, And the only reason I’m still here Is that you’d let me.   I think of the miracle That you understand me like a second language Surprising fluency in my native tongue My savage, broken bellows finally answered by a Second voice.   It…

Archived: Proposition :: Chelle Costello

  I have an idea: let’s every one of us Walk into a field- Thistleberry and old tires growing over each other, Rusted afterthoughts and migratory birds- And raise our hands to the sky To implore the great one to tell us why we are. I am sure that if all of humanity could cry…

Archived: The Sentinel :: Zachary Williams

The Sentinel stands atop his post He guards the valley low His sword aside in a scabbard of frost His helm and cloak are covered in snow   He guards the valley low His beard a forest of great green pines His helm and cloak are covered in snow The Sentinel’s eyes stare ahead in…

Archived: That Beautiful Girl :: Marcus Johnson

  “11:34AM….already?” I set my phone down. I had slept through my first two classes, not that they were important or anything, just Biology and World Music. Biology was taught by a tangent-loving hobbit, and world music was being taught by John from Garfield so I knew I wasn’t missing much. I lay in bed…

Archived: Stockwood :: Crysahna Suarez

  The sticky grey buttons of the Belmar Nursing Home break room resistively accept my entrance code, and I place my finger on the time clock. ‘Employee not recognized’. Slightly moving finger positions, I try again. ‘Employee not recognized.’ I place my finger down for what feels like the thousandth time. ‘Employee not recognized’. I…

Archived: Moon Howls :: Crysahna Suarez

  Upon the wake of evening sun A song is sung what  bliss is spread About the weary have we fun Are not we the ungrateful dead All howl above to twinkle’s day Shadows here are for you to hide Why do you come with fear to play Away you ran should not have cried…

Archived: Martha Washington… :: Hannah Pratt

  …went a little crazy after George died. She burned their letters and moved to the attic. That can happen sometimes.   At the parent teacher conference, she started to black out. Fingers shaking, Morse Code on the desk, Feeling small. That can happen.   Humans must be pre-disposed to instability. All it takes is…

Archived: Inbetween :: Samantha Scheid

  Go over the garden wall, my child Take your oil lantern and a warm blanket and nothing more. Cross the river and into the forest. Leaves of gold and crimson fall around you, your steps a-lit by only the milk light of moon Autumn falls around you, the wind catch at your coat Go…

Archived: EXTENSIONS :: Hannah Pratt

    Written like secret cheats to tests on my desk Folded as if making paper hearts.   We’re always up to no good. No good landmarks. No good barbeque places in town. Living in the underbelly of being busy. Combing through analogues of home spices. Discovering the symptoms of bad vices.   We’re writing…

Archived: Hero :: Samantha Scheid

  Heart thundering. Sweat dripping. Feet pounding the hot sand of the Badlands. Her hair was plastered to her dripping forehead as she sprinted from the burning settlement she had once called home. “He’s going to kill me. He’s going to kill me.” Her feet slipped through the burning sand. “Oh gods he’s going to…

Archived: Cold Heaven :: Samantha Cooley   

       Clouds, Like a veil, With a sheer, shining edge, Covers the sky floor. Soaked in sunlight, The satin unfurls to the far reaches of my eyes breadth. Glittering sparkling, warmed by the light, the satin gracefully sits. What should be a translucent gauze, reveals itself as a crocheted lace – too thick to be…

Archived: Gas Station Romance :: Julia Keedy

  From my quiet perch upon the wall I am witnessing a gas station romance. Young love that pulls up in a beat up van, coasting on fumes. She is round with the fruits of his labor, carrying a child made of desperate wishes. He is thin as a rail, allowing her to eat him…