I awoke as I now know myself among the ash trees by a shallow pond, their branches spread wide. After taking a drink from the clear water I grabbed the smooth stones by the bank and considered how I may have found myself swaddled by the ashes’ shade. I pile the stones, starting from the…
Category: Archive
Archived: A Series of 4 by Jose Flores
Aisumasen Marmalade skies and tangerine trees Were just a daydream Milk and honey once sweet Is now empty as a yellow submarine I wish for yesterday But now she’s leaving home I wish it was getting better But sadly happiness is a warm gun The Gift Of Ignorance I was once a saturday child Batman,…
Archived: Stations by Nevaeh
In this state of mind A prison Feeling trapped in any direction I go Dreading what will come next That’ll never let me sleep Endless thoughts Some call it overthinking To me An everyday routine Some days it’s pianos and classical Others it’s heavy metal and rock Or neither Seems it plays these thoughts whenever…
Archived: Insomnia by Micaela Pinto
Insomnia My mind and heart crouch toe-to-toe, To wait for gunshot’s blast- For when it sounds, they’ll start to race, When all but time goes fast. Ah night has come, which splendid feast, Can body, mind, and soul sustain, I, for one, have starved so long, That hope, I know, is had in vain. For…
Archived: Fairy Friend by Nevaeh Barrera
After a morning of flying around the Forest of Constelville “flying” errands, I’m headed home to take an afternoon nap. I have a close friend named Woodman. Woodman is made out of logs, twigs, and a whole lot of personality. One thing to seriously note about Woodman is that he doesn’t care for the privacy…
Archived: The Weight by Jose Flores
Content Warning* Story contains depictions of self-harm. (In any story you will ever read, there is a moral or something we take from it, but this story is only meant to be heard) It is a warm Sunday morning as a 15 year old boy is laying on a cold bed in an emergency room…
Archived: Spork by Taylor Pankewicz
The day was usual for Jerry. Be used at breakfast, set in the sink to soak, bath time, then back to bed. But this day was different. Today was the day he saw Sandra. Sandra the spoon, the most beautiful piece of silverware he had ever laid his eyes on. After breakfast the usual routine…
Archived: Italy in the Great War by William Flagge-Lee
The set resembles that of a dirty trench; the background set pieces have large mountains visible. Three characters are gathered around the trench. Two of them standing next to each other a fair distance away from the other who is standing on a box to elevate his height. The two men are wearing two messy…
Archived: July 3rd by Katrina Johns
Deep in my gut, the denial grew Blossoming over till it spilled anew Gone were those happy-go-lucky days, The day that July 3rd came Sweeping away what once was- My companion The heat of summer took you Before the first storm came, You were gone, and it came And I wept
Archived: The Body by Samantha Rivera
Characters Jasmine (Jaz) – Older sister Chloe (Chlo) – Younger sister Frank – The body The set shows rooms throughout the house. On the bottom floor, you can see a living room that leads into a kitchen. There are stairs going up from the living room into a hallway. You can see into two bedrooms…
Archived: Fire’s Whisper by Braidynne Brashear
Sweet candlelight. Dancing in the depths of nightfall. Sweet candlelight. Caressing the shadows all white. Wax runs down like a waterfall. It almost dies in a cool squall. Sweet candlelight. Biography: Braidynne Brashear started Aims in the fall of 2018 as a Concurrent Enrollment student. She graduated from high school and Aims in 2020. Braidynne…
Archived: Cold Tea by James Byrd
Setting: A City Court Room Time: Before and after a court case Character: A 20 year old contemplating the death of his mother and fate of his father INT. BENCH OUT FRONT OF A COURTROOM – MIDDAY I would say I didn’t think it would happen to me or her, but that’s hard to say…
Archived: A Cat Named Wallet by Katherine Noce
Once upon a fine, grey afternoon, in the heart of some large city located some distance from here, the weatherman made no indication of snow. The weather had not received this memo and had proceeded to lightly rain tiny white crystals all over the place, leaving several inches of the stuff on the undisturbed rooftops…
Archived: String by Bernadette Ledbetter
The man on the moon Gave us something to do. With a string and a ring We went to find Ping For his future wife was calling. With the strings attached We pulled them together Waiting to see what would happen. When they saw one another They embraced and they sang For they were always…
Archived: Summer by Bernadette Ledbetter
Outside was so bright and sunny Golden rays dripping like honey Birds flew high in the sky Childish fingers clinging to the memories He grinned from ear to ear, “Summer is so warm and yummy.”
Archived: A Writer’s Lament by Dasha
I hate to write poetry The words never go where I want ‘em They limp along precariously And they never stay where I put ‘em My rhyming scheme is inconsistent My meter is all wrong This poem needs some assistance No good words rhyme with wrong
Archived: American Farmer by Lisa Smith
American Farmer Golden seas of grain stretched out far and wide Hours of work put into the field Every farmer’s pride Hoping the harvest has good yield Praying for good weather American Farmers get no rest Keeping their farms together Vowing to give their very best The unsung heroes of our land We need to…
Archived: The Darkness by Abby Moser
Trigger Warning: Abuse The Sun and the Moon I didn’t question that he was placed here for me. The light he carried cured the darkest parts of my soul. I lost myself in him When he left Darkness greeted me with a kiss. I let it devour me whole Now each night I wait for…
Archived: March 13th by Lissa Horsman-Gettman
March 13, 2020 I remember it so clearly It started off like any other day The kids were all so cheery It was Friday, and they were ready to play But as the day progressed The stress began to grow We thought we were so blessed Until they mentioned Covo Frantically we started prepping For…
Archived: Her Withered Fingers by Samantha Byerly
I believe I could find myself seeking to live with the leaves of grass and flowers for a while. At the base of my soul, and yours too, I feel a deep and unfeigned togetherness with nature. It wasn’t until you led me down that narrow, dirt path through those silent woods, That I came…
Archived: Fills the Cracks with Gold by Dasha
He walks across the fire With strides wide and bold He reaches for my hand And fills the cracks with gold He sees the person that I am He knows my truths untold He sits down here beside me And fills the cracks with gold He wraps his arms around me And protects me from…
Archived: Vylona by Elizabeth Richards
She smelled like herbs and sunlight. Like failed attempts at gardening and healing salves. She sounded like lullabies and the forest. Like warnings and black bears. She looked like impulsive decisions and brash words. Like soft spoken, begrudging apologies and life-risking loyalty. She felt like warm hugs and carefully bandaged wounds. Like anger veiled by…
Archived: Sweet Tooth, or Stomach Ache by Lillie Irene Hernandez
Your lips are burnt sugar, glazed with vanilla the texture of whipped syrup. Your cheeks are like pieces of silk draped over a crooked wireframe. Your eyes are like pools of stolen moonlight, only they hide rigid daggers beneath them. Your tongue is contracted to a script, only so effortlessly written that my heart dances…
Archived: The Tailor Patched by Zoe Coats
A woman of rhyme without reason Was Miss Melanie Bleu She wore their scorn well— The woman who was taboo. He’d left her at the altar With naught but a festering feast; To another who stays gold His heart was only leased. To the tailor she went a-calling She’d dress fit for a queen Her…
Archived: Paint Me Back to Life by Eliza Bratt
She’s different now. I used to see her in chaos The bustle of people on the street The laugh of a child in the theater The bark of a dog in a winter park The hum of a car outside my window. Now I find her in silence In every frostbitten morning In every sunrise…
Archived: To-Do List by Elizabeth Dorst
It’s nice when I can count the worries on my hand I look at my list (my digits) and I know where I stand Then I can start to check them off one by one, Using a knife I cut my worries from my hand (very fun) I’m left with a beautiful perfect red stump,…
Archived: Cry, O Young One by Elizabeth Dorst
Sweet sap fills the air he sees, Through the thick mist and trees, He sees the bear-man, strong and tall, The little tenderfoot drools, He wants it all. But alas, his small feet are weak, He can’t express his love, His spirit is meek, He runs away when the bear-man is near, From shyness and…
Archived: Letter from an Ex-Gifted Kid by Elizabeth Richards
Please stop calling me smart. I don’t like it, and it’s not a compliment. Every time those words leave your mouth, I want to peel my skin off, Open up my skull and show you What those words have done to me. The scars on my self-love, The minuscule paperweight I call my self-worth, (The…
Archived: The Unknown by Kristen Kolb
She wakes up finding herself on her porch surrounded only by the sounds of the storm. It is still dark out and she looks at her phone to see it is 3:30 in the morning. It is typical for her to fall asleep on her porch, she sits out there for hours listening to the…
Archived: And so, it Began by Robert Beeks
A young man’s joyful laughter can be heard as the beating of hoofs tear down the beaten path along the calm river. His joy reflected in nature around him as he rides a beautiful brown mare through the brush. A kind and soft face can be seen under a wide leather hat, his gentle eyes…
Archived: Get Out by Alexis Begeman
My palms were sweating and my heart was pounding at 100 miles per hour. I had never felt this way before. The thought of telling my mother made me sick to my stomach knowing there was no way to tell what she was going to say. After all, I am her child and she always…
Archived: Blue Monster by Alexis Begeman
My first day off in weeks seemed like a breath of fresh air. With nothing to do and nowhere to go, it seemed only fitting to wear my favorite Linkin Park T-Shirt. As I slid on the shirt, I could feel the intense love from the hug of my best friend. With her being away,…
Archived: Heeding the Call by Jarred Mendenhall
“…and that is how I ended up in a room with 4 guys and a video camera.” Gil boasted. “Oh…” Fiona replied. Both women strolled through the sea of people that coursed over the sidewalk of the city they had found themselves in. Gil’s way of dressing got several looks from people, but despite that,…
Archived: The Old West Watcher by Payton McKevitt
The trickle of whiskey splashing into a cloudy glass somehow always drowns out the noise of all my patrons. In that moment of pouring, I get the tiniest hint of peace. Then I slide it to the drunk that ordered it, and I have to pretend to be invested in his story. Most of the…
Archived: The Cave by Jacquelyn Vick
Water slid down the stalactite, filling a pool where the rough cave floor sloped. Footsteps echoed the drip. The prisoner closed his eyes, pressing further into the jagged wall surrounding him. The footsteps silenced, and a metallic tapping caught the rhythm. The prisoner sighed and glared. A thin light above his bars illuminated the man…
Archived: Lorb Bless by Jamie Chihuan
This was taken off the I-25 and HWY 119 intersection. Coming off the highway I noticed this man standing with his dog under this sign. I parked my car at a gas station nearby and quickly made my way over to the man. This was back in February and I unfortunately forgot this man’s name….
Archived: Printmaking by Miguel Rocha
2-color reduction linoleum relief print. Oil based ink was used and printed on mulberry paper.
Archived: Static Smile by Kado Covnot
Bio: I’ve been drawing all my life, but didn’t take it seriously till about 6th or 7th grade. I love being able to make a drawing, whether it is cute, creepy, or just plain out of nothing and watching my audience’s eye light up. I love hearing the “You drew that?” “How did you do…
Archived: Love for Peace by Sonia Billings
My favorite atmosphere is peace. Perhaps I value peace so much because I did not always have had it. I grew up in the midst of a civil war that lasted 12 years which caused a massive exodus to other countries, in search of living in a peaceful environment. The war in El Salvador began…
Archived: Queen of One Million Stars by Chloe Parsons
Scarlet memories written on the pane of a silver screen. Rose petal dreams flow while we dance in the vivid moonlight. Pushing away the pain of everyday life. We are free with the stars in the sky.