Pass on Grandpa’s legacy, you say With Grandpa gone, memories and stories fade Great Grandchildren meet as babes Relationships lacking living history made Pass on Grandpa’s legacy, you say Grandpa told enchanting stories with such jazz to his grandchildren about generations past. How will I tell his story with as much pizzazz? Pass on…
Category: Archive
Archived: The Wittiest Boy I Ever Knew by Stephanie Crabtree
Not only funny, he is smart Kind, loyal and family glue The first to cradle a broken heart This wittiest boy I ever knew. He lives in fear of boredom Even through a bout of the flu He can’t stand a life of ho-hum This wittiest boy I ever knew. At first he may seem…
Archived: Untitled by Madison
Amidst the warm summer days, we find ourselves nestled in the shade, sharing laughter with a dear friend. The sweet, crisp lemonade cools our senses as ice floats playfully within the glass. A gentle breeze caresses our skin, causing leaves to dance gracefully around us. In the distance the joyful giggles of children at…
Archived: The Cost of the Few by Katelea Diaz
Red, blue, and gold are the colors of the bold The few, the proud, not just a part of the crowd. Choosing to lose one’s freedom, So that others can have theirs. From completing all the chores while wearing this uniform Live in a dorm with 3 other people who call themselves leathernecks Everyone hit…
Archived: The Intimate Side of Love by Christina Renteria-Salazar
You slowed me down No one ever could You grounded me No one ever could You taught me intimacy No one ever could You kissed me for hours No one ever could Because of you my soul is forever changed Shared a love I never thought I could
Archived: Motherhood by Christina Renteria-Salazar
Cross bags, mini vans Lunchboxes, dinner plans Mama Band-Aids, soccer games, Parent-teacher conferences, dirty hands Mama Pinching backs, tying shoes, Mending hearts, teaching love Mama
Archived: Love’s Endurance by Sarah Liess
In shadows, love resides with a troubled soul, A dance of emotions, a battle untold. Silent tears and whispers, in darkness we hide, Bound by affection, our souls intertwine. Oh, how love endures when the fiend takes its hold, An addict’s chaos, a tale to be told. With trembling hands, they chase the sweetest lie,…
Archived: Poem About Junger by Alicia Kane
Red collar hanging above the dashboard, A mere remnant of a family dog adored. Junger was a noble canine and gave heartfelt embraces, Until cancer came through and silenced his song. A German shepherd once youthful and sleek, Eager to protect with charcoal fur shining, Quickly deteriorated into a grapefruit sized tumor, Rotted teeth, bowed…
Archived: Whole by Audra Cooper
Before this otherness in him blooms, he had hardly known it was there or perhaps he had not wanted to look. Now, though, he could admit, that in moments, small, and unguarded, he had felt it lapping, -quiet, but insistent, against his shore Some instinct had always made him turn away, had made him lean…
Archived: Hesitancy Is Holding Me Back by Jaqueline Garibay
It surrounds me in its cold embrace. Pulling me this way and that way All the while lapping at my face Crashing around me pulling farther and farther away. Guiding me to a quiet place Floating gently upon the waves Waves rippling over me Dragging me into the bottomless abyss. Below the surface in a…
Archived: Dancing With The Devil by Ixel Macias
Content Warning for self-harm. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, thoughts of self-harm, or other emotional distress, please call the 988 crisis line for support. She loved her black dress and red heals She loved to dance, and he knew that They were always in sync, and she liked that He spun…
Archived: Diary of a Girl Who Is Writing to a Ghost by Ixel Macias
Dear Diary, How do I tell him I love him? How do I tell him I should have said yes to his marriage proposal? How do I tell him I made a mistake? I didn’t mean to hurt him. Dear Diary, How do I tell him it’s not too late? How do I tell…
Archived: A God of Destruction and Beauty by Katie Aguirre Castaneda
The blue sky slowly darkened. The air thickened and became vile. The birds flew away as the clouds grew grey. A roar rumbled through the ground. A sweet scent of fire and smoke filled the young woman. The air grew musty and grey. The smoke choked her as she shed a few tears. The sweet…
Archived: Mother by Zackari Bueno
Tired, and exhausted, turning the lights on for the front porch, Moving long hair from dark eyes, holding a crying babe Rocking, shushing, silently praying for it to end To end the pain To end the thoughts of the man that left The baby continues to cry, and cannot consult Only rock And rock And…
Archived: A Miami Sestina by Stephanie Crabtree
Lounging on the beach Relaxing in the sand Soaking up the rays of sun Living in the moment on the coast Feeling the warmth on my skin Relishing in all the Miami vibes I listen to the music vibes That travel down the beach The rhythm tracing over my skin The bass reverberating through the…
Archived: The Man Who Lives in the Fairy Gardens by Renate Petitt
The most creative person I ever knew was a man of innovation. He could construct a dollhouse zipline out of blades of grass, and would do so just to see his daughter smile. He taught me that the box is dull, it’s better to think outside of it. Imagination resembles a tree with endless fruitage:…
Archived: Frankenstein’s Folly by Renate Petitt
In the realm of the dank forgotten, a creature was born, forsaken by pride. Eyes flickering with hollow loneliness, a symphony of scars etched deeply, the pain shows. A personage stitched of sinew, raw and untainted, a patchwork of horrors, a tale intertwined. A scientist’s creation, cast out by fate, rejected by mankind, returned to…
Archived: War by Zachary Padilla
Content Warning for self-harm. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, thoughts of self-harm, or other emotional distress, please call the 988 crisis line for support. Somedays It feels crazy, to want to be alive Like all around me is the smell of death As if God looks down on me as…
Archived: A Dark Winter by Julia Duvall
At first It’s not so bad in fact it makes me glad. Great white fluffy flakes falling to the ground covering it like a warm blanket. What a refreshing feeling it is to walk out the door to such a site of the first fallen snow. Long awaited and welcomed back to my home…
Archived: The Endless Sea by Drew Brenengen
Bombs rained down followed by pamphlets urging families to flee Then we came ten thousand of us clustered on the outskirts surrounding the desert city its tan buildings clustered all holding a mystery We knew what was next an endless sea of doors untold carnage Behind each one a potential family a potential threat we…
Archived: Deep Thoughts by Connor J. Fellinger
With only seconds to spare, and mere seconds to think; As your fears begin to rise, and you don’t stop to blink, Your mind starts to race- only stopped by a crack. As you look up to gaze upon a broken-up mast. In fear for your life, you run down below deck- But to…
Archived: Devils Advocate by Artemis Adams
They always told me the devil is bad “Don’t go looking for trouble,” they said, “He may seem fun, even just a tad, “but he’ll doom your soul and steal your head.” They force us to follow their rules and intimidate us into submission if we try to step out of line, they treat us…
Archived: My favorite Day by Kalie Minifield
My Favorite day was with you By the seaside Laid out on the warm sand, the hot sun baking our skin The sound of the waves crashing on the shore The sound of the gulls ringing in our ears Later in the day we got ice cream Me vanilla, you chocolate Opposite, just like our…
Archived: Rest with Hope by Jeffery Moser
Nature feigns to be asleep: Beetles burrow and disappear— Monarchs migrate south–crows behave like tombs– So, Winter readies himself, gingered by cheer, With Snow and the Old North Wind his constant boons. But I the while, sigh–chastened—and retire inside. It is time to think and bemoan my muse until warmer rays abide. Yet, beneath this…
Archived: Ode to Death by Emily Clemmons
Shivers running down my spine A cold touch, the touch of death The string has been cut, now to be assigned Heaven, Hell, Valhalla, all these choices depend on the last breath Your servants, Hades and Hel shall take good care of me Perhaps be a soul that can aid someone who has lost meaning…
Archived: Letting Go by Kimber Watson
Every moment that passes by is empty without you. You were just here now you are gone For the life of me, I don’t know what to do. That moment in time when we first met, You turned my world upside down, When I fell head over heels in love. That moment when…
Archived: The King’s Apple by Zachary Powell
Once long ago, in a forgotten land much like our own, lay the old town of Vale. Vale lay cradled in a small vast valley, filled with great rolling hills interlocked with lazy, winding rivers and modest lakes filled with brisk, crystal-clear waters. All throughout the realm lay a plethora of apple trees as far…
Archived: The Artificial Play Projection System by Wyatt Johnson
Locations Back alley of New York Curtains still closed, Announcer walks to the center of the stage David: Welcome everyone! My name is David Walker. Investors, future stockholders, and hopefully future customers, what you are all about to see will completely change not just Broadway, but all forms of staged performances. Welcome to the first…
Archived: Death Bed
Author: Alicia Kane (she/her) Email: akane1@aims.edu Submission: Death Bed By Alicia Kane Firefly sat curled in her rickety old bed, the threadbare sheets barely enough to give any semblance of warmth. The harsh white ceiling light cast sharp shadows down onto the book she read, the rough grain of the paper making some of the…
Archived: A Trip to The Mountains by Katie Aguirre Castaneda
The little girl sat in the backseat of the jeep. The tires spinning and turning as the car pushed forward. The cool summer breeze blew against her, as her shoulder length hair flew around in the wind. The little girl bickered with her older brother as the jeep followed the curvy road. Her parents sitting…
Archived: Gilgamesh Rewrite by Brooklyn Sanz
In the year 2197, technology had reached a revolutionary peak that people had never thought possible. Cars no longer needed to be driven, wireless electricity had taken the world by storm, and artificial intelligence was thriving. However, the most groundbreaking and world-renowned technology was the ability to let people immortalize themselves via consciousness transferring. Thanks…
Archived: The Epic of Gilgamesh: (but also) The Pick of Destiny by Kelsey Osthoff
Let he who rocks the hardest, let him teach them how to roll; He who all melodies possesses should teach all the students; He shall impart his tasty riffs, and so they share it together. Gilgamesh was the best guitar player in all the lands. He was the undisputed King of The Six String, but…
Archived: Play by Mary Jones
Hi, my name is Rosie, and I am a Little Brown Bat, also referred to as Myotis Lucifugus. We as the most common Bat species populate all of North America from Canada all the way down to New Mexico. Each year I raise one pup, and we all stay in Colorado all year hibernating in…
Archived: Circle of Loss by Phillip Muniz
Everyone knew not to look at the trees for too long. Stories had been passed down in the village of Anuria for longer than anyone could remember about the Forest. How it held everything together and about the Veil that separated our world from the Other. Everyone had their own idea about what the “Other…
Archived: The Last Light by Emma Serrano
“Care for some tea?” a small cup was placed in front of Anthony, the motion breaking him from his momentary trance, “It’s honeybush tea. I made it myself.” Anthony glanced between steaming the cup and the silver-haired male sitting across from him, “No, thank you.” he replied, slightly pushing the cup away to instate his…
Archived: The Opening Act by Morena Sanson
It is said that flowers that bloom the latest are the most beautiful. I find this saying to be true. I have sung mendacious praises for those beneath me, as humility shows true talent. My faith in you taught me patience, that you would not write of me without knowing I will achieve greatness. Though…
Archived: Grief by Marshall Lynn
Biography: Having lived with severe chronic illness since I was a child, I never thought I could make it to adulthood. I lived my days in constant pain, exhaustion, and unshakable sickness – something that carved my bones hollow and distorted my perception of reality. In my destroyed mind, there was no way that this…
Archived: Stone Heart by Nijal Kirby
My grandpappy used to always say that we were all born with hearts of gold. That we all naturally glowed brighter and with a gentler warmth than the sun could ever hope to match, and that we brought more joy and happiness than the peaceful dawn of a beautiful morn ever could. He’d always tell…