I still remember the daze It all felt like a haze… Crisp morning air That took my breath away Beautiful rays, Drawing attention to the beauty in the world Through every inhalation the smell of freshly cut grass, The mesmerizing array of colors stopped the bees in their tracks Birds sang until the phone rang…
Category: Poetry
Insomnia By Kory Wienke
A sleepless night A moon meshing with the sun Two merging into one A double vision Two different facades One insulting me and calling me names The other one holding my hand and telling me i’ll be okay The two figures staring back at me with four eyes When I see them they look so…
Wonderland By Kory Wienke
Your teary eyed Eyes twinkle in the starriest night You empathize Because I knew you were right Emotional lacks self control Feels like spiraling Going down rabbit holes Finding little things is inspiring A brain full of thoughts Scattered among one puzzle piece Allowing new lessons taught Tearing off thread from your fleece Your desensitized…
Dyslexia By Paul Fullop
Look at these words,with each their own sound,this and that and beep and boop. Can’t you hear?Can’t you hear? Look at their placement,all scattered about,exactly where they should be. Can’t you see?Can’t you see? Look at you will you,fingers tracing lines,sounding everything out loud. Can’t you read?Can’t you read?
You By Paul Fulop
Find yourself a rhythm, find yourself a storied line. Dress it up all fancy and nice, lose yourself in all it holds. Dance about the twisting columns of description and of rhyme. Race from end to end and read it all again. Now tell me what you’ve found. Tell me all the little things and…
Kaleidoscope By Taylor Rehurek
I chase fading rainbows in the night, Grasping fantasies with desperate might. With each turn, a realm of make-believe, where shadows twist, and I deceive. Lost in my dreams, Where laughter fades to silent streams. with a heart weighed down, I search for a way, In this haunting, delusional display. Through fractured glass, I seek…
Snowboarding By Sarah Bourquin
A cold and slippery morning. The sun is still sleeping. Frozen fingers and frozen toes. Mittens, hats, jackets, scarves dance in white, Flickering forward and back, behind and in front of trees. Occasionally, one disappears. A long line and then an even longer lift. The chair is filled with chatter, Carried away by the cold….
Lest We Forget By Jeffery Moser
The yellow leaves are falling, While ballots are dropping. I hear wild geese calling, And it’s that time for shopping — Indeed, the holidays are coming! Some acquaintances are parting, With this old year stopping. As a new year is starting, Fresh snows shall be topping — Surely, more friendships are forthcoming!
the roses and the thorns and the deep blue sea By Aubrielle Reynolds
i do not cry because i want to die but because i’m afraid you will lie or perhaps i’m more afraid you won’t so confess i don’t instead i cry and my soul lets out a sigh i fear you will never love me i fear that i won’t be ever be enough to be…
Elvis Costello Said Everyday I Write The Book And So Did I By Jonathan Gonzalez Trejo
When will I stop punching the clock? Haven’t worked on the book since July. So technically it is not every day. I lie consecutively…footnoting the truth, nah. The phosphenes are the only art made. Daily to remind me I ain’t shit. When will I stop punching the clock? To affairs organized for others, excluding me….
I Dreamed of You By Kelli Mora
I dreamed of youa few days lateras I slept in the room next to yours. You did not know you had diedand I thought that maybethey had made a mistake. You were just asleepand you would be okaybut then I remembered as they took you away. I tried to make up for all the ways that I…
Delivered To The Worms, Free Of Charge By Jonathan Gonzalez Trejo
A galloping heart digs under the floury moon The executioner’s mind spins like an industrial laundry machine At what is carved to be, being so soon The founding fathers look without a raison d’être in the eye that once beamed In times when liberty was fab and destined to boom Half of what stood in…
The Mist Betwixt the Stars By Tait Simpson
The Mist Betwixt the Stars Have you ere gazed out, At the mist betwixt the stars? The sickly band stretched ‘cross the heavens With its alabaster glow? Have you ere listened, To the bullfrogs belted bars? A croaking chorus calling out, From their tannic water holes. Has your skin been touched; By the crisp September…
Premonitions From an Antique Sage By John Quincy Thompson
The forests of tomorrow will be metal spires With no sticks, leaves, or colors Who lick the clouds and pierce the sky Yesterday’s trees, mere antiquity Rivers will not run with water, And will not flow or move And will be weaved of blackened stone And will bake under the heat of the sun Man…
The White Defender By Tait Simpson
The hordes approaching from the west. The White Defenders stand the line. Teeth gnashing tearing flesh, The Whiteguard mustn’t fail Rage against the Latrans host, The White Defenders stand the line. Defend the land whatever the cost. The Whiteguard mustn’t fall. Malady o’ertakes all but one, The last Defender stands alone. His white cloak bathed…
Pen and Paper By Mackenzie Franks
Tense in the darkness, Shivers shooting down my spine. Echoes screaming in my brain, “Release me.” The shouts overlapping, Increasing in volume. |Fingers fidgeting for anything, To punch, to scream, to feel. I need release. I need to feel anything but empty. I need to gain control. I pick up the pen, Heart rate rising…
Drowning… By Mackenzie Franks
Cold plunge all around, Fighting to get to the surface But chained to an anchor Pulling me deeper into the abyss, Flailing to break free But failing inevitably, Can’t scream, Can’t talk, Can’t breathe… Chest restricted Suffocating… The weight unbearable And my body stilled, Flowing with the current But never far from the sinking anchor,…
Businessman By Matthew Frink
the Business man The business man the business Man he’s Walking down the street the business Man The business man the Business man he’s walking down the Street Look at him look at Him look at him with his Fucking face look at Him Look at him look at him with his fucking Face Hit…
Garbage Man By Matthew Frink
I am the Garbage Man I’ve come for your trash Don’t let the dog out I’ll kick your fuckin’ ass! I Am the HandyMan I’ve come for your wood Beavers know I nailed it These jokes are fuckin’ lewd! Didilly didilly doo do do do Didilly do do do Didilly didilly doo do do do…
Light Through the Cracks By Chelsea Cramer
In the shadowed streets where dreams decay,Where the lost and the weary quietly lay,There’s a pain that lingers, sharp and deep,A love we lost, a grief we keep. Cracks in our hearts let the light filter through,Even in darkness, hope whispers true.The echoes of spirits, their voices so clear,Urge us forward—”Be brave, persevere.” When the…
A Paper Sword Haiku By. Kora Campbell
Raise a paper sword, See what it wants to defend, Oh what will it do? It is flimsy, frail It can only do so much, Can it be so sharp? What will it cut, slice? This or that, what can it do? A plain paper cut… Or a great sever? So lay down the paper…
Maybe Tomorrow… By. Jonathan Gonzolez Trejo
Maybe tomorrow I don’t know… Maybe tomorrow I don’t know I don’t know… Maybe tomorrow I won’t tighten my head in braids… Maybe tomorrow the way I display my hair will make me look confident and cool and not clueless and concerned… Maybe tomorrow you’ll come back to my arms, girl! Had to throw in…
Confused from Spontaneous By Matthew Frink
She was Confused. And so was I. I didn’t know that I loved her yet Innovative artistry with visions of chaos A random happenstance Kindred spirits spontaneously Awakening to one another from friends to secret leg touches an awkward date is fated Friend-hugs and romantic handshakes Weirdly comfortable, I am transparent with this woman I…
Sonnet for the Lark Bunting By Jeffery Moser
Who will pause for Colorado’s state bird? It’s black and white feathers blot the vast plains. This underdog bird of sorts must be heard: “Hweee, hweee, hweee! Chit, chit! Chirp!” It’s bubbling reigns. Who will halt their daily walk to listen, For the bunting’s calls when she feeds her young? “Hweee, hweee, hweee! Whert! Whert!”…
Our Wishing Well is Full, Try Us Again Tomorrow by Kolby Cruz
Pennies drowning at feet of white carnation. Wishing well overflowing, dispelling words left unspoken. Transform superstitious frustration. Hopeful beings, unjust demonstration of vision once desired, they are now forsaken. Pennies drowning, at feet of white carnation. Corroded. Atrocities do lay out in procession. Of what fate can a cent be mistaken? Transform superstitious frustration. Not…
Lemurs on Speed! by Matthew J Frink
Look at them lemurs, them lemurs on speedwith their big bugged eyes, evaluating meLook at them lemurs, them lemurs on speedwith their big bugged eyes, evaluating meInvestigate the investigators,the investigators glaring at teenagersInvestigate the investigators,the investigators always glaring at teenagers,I see ‘em with my eyesI see them with my eyes!Listen to them beavers, them beavers…
My Vanity by Eli Lundgreen
It looks on me. For looking through my dense, blue eyes to think and see something could be perfect. And it disappoints me, when vision collides,…
The Chair by Janelle Penaherrera
There it sat four legs, two arms, straight back, sturdy, steadfast, dependable, strong And there it sat at the head of the table Empty. One by one, the side chairs filled Noisy chatter cloaked the elephant in the room, the empty chair. Memories abound of a love shared, contagious laughter, family combat halted by a…
Dinner? by Marian Hess
I found a spider on my stoop! It’s time to make some spider soup! Sous vide? Air fry? …
HAUNTED HOUSE UPKEEP, OR, E.A.P.’S QUIET NIGHT IN by A.T. Banks
The hallway-clock’s ticking and the pendulum’s sticking & the ravens are barring the door with their sharp claws they’re tapping – one might call it rapping – but maven of Morse I can’t claim My only true aim – though I know it for vain – to escape someplace safe ere night’s fall, for the…
10.11.24 by Phillip Lara
A melodious verse enters and floats in the desert of my mindIn this unforgiving wasteland, the song begins in a whisper across the valley of sand.The notes come like a breeze stirring in the wind that wakes something inside of meAn angelic voice rises like a call to an oasis moving me forwardDeep in my…
TO OPHELIA WITH LOVE by A.T. Banks
I WOULD HAVE LOVED YOU FOREVER & NEVER CALLED YOU CRAZY I WOULD HAVE PULLED YOU FROM THE RIVER BEFORE IT STOLE ROSE-PINK FROM CHEEKS & TINGED YOUR TEETH A BRACKISH BLUE IF I HAD BEEN THERE YOU WOULD HAVE MADE IT OUT ALIVE I WOULD HAVE BROUGHT YOU DAISIES EVERY DAY & HELD YOUR…
Burnt Marshmallow of Contempt by Matthew J Frink
On a planet primarily made of waterin the state of Colorado with rushing rivers, flowing from the mountain.Wild Bobcatslapping up the winter water flowing down the mountainside.Flowingnear the town of Greeley.next to the university is a homewith a thirsty kitty. A small fountainWater sprinklingjets into a pool.The perfect refreshment for the tiny wannabe Snow Leopardstaring…
Counting Stars and Counting Sheep by John Fonseth
I can’t keep you awake But you can’t stay, always dreaming. Take heed behind our shadows For time can be misleading. Our act is on the road now The circus is a hit. We juggle blades and fire For anyone who’ll sit. I keep the torch light burning So this show might never stop. I…
BEWARE—THE DEAD HAVE TAKEN EARTH [& SHOW NO SIGNS OF RETURNING IT] [OR, IN WHICH THE WEIGHT OF ONE’S OWN GRAVE CAN BE ITS OWN KIND OF PURGATORY] by A.T. Banks
OPHELIA OPINES ON THE SEEDS YOU CAN BUY FROM HER SPOT IN THE GREENHOUSE LOT SHE STRAIGHTENS HER SUN HAT WITH HAND HYPOTHERMIC & DEADHEADS THE PANSIES IN PASSING COUNT DRACULA’S OUT ON THE CURB THE ONE OUTSIDE THE SINCLAIR HE’S SMOKING A SHREDDED-UP CIGARETTE & KEEPING HIS CAPE FROM THE DUST JEANNE D’ARC AIMS…
Uprooted by Lee Clouston
Content Warning: Sexual Assault Emotions, Love, happiness, attraction, lust, violence. You say your affection is a seed needing to be planted so it may grow. Feelings festering needing to be freed, Released. But I am a tree in and of my own Planted and rooted in place Planting your seed uprooted me, cracked the ground…
stained glass by Aubrielle Reynolds
the past it can cut like glass why can’t i let go? look at the beauty of a stained glass window it’s so intriguing, how could you look away? so i hold on and keep the pain another day few things last forever, so to love fearlessly is quite the endeavor to be fearless is…
Worn Yarn by Brooke Capuano
I chase through waves trying to catch what has already been swept away and dragged back into something I can never hold. I strangle the warm hugs around me trying to ask it a question, and I unravel the sweater I wore when I was hurt to find what yarn it was made of. I…
Unfamiliar by Mariah Crawford
I don’t know anything like the back of my hand, even the back of my hand. These veins are not arterial streets I follow home. They are not rivers leading me to the pounding sea The center of my body is where all maps end. I’ve tried to memorize my topography. I’ve tried to trace…
THE KATABASIS OF ANOUSHKA THE UMBRAMANCER [or, A VILLANELLE ON THE PATCHWORK AFTERLIFE] by A.T. Banks
THE RED MOON WANED & THE TALLOW-WAX DRIPPED & THE BLACK DOG PACED ON THE SHORE THE NIGHT ANOUSHKA WENT DOWN TO THE CRYPT THE BLACK WATER BOILED, THE BOAT’S STARBOARD DIPPED, & THE DEAD WRUNG THEIR HANDS AT THE OARS THE RED MOON WANED & THE TALLOW-WAX DRIPPED THE FATES IN THE FOREGROUND, WITH…
There Will Always Be Monsters by Josephine Yockim
Kept around the corner is a monster of its own making It keeps a bottle, a can, a drink in its reach Never missing a drop, stumbling for another Cries are all it has, weeping, angry, joyous tears And yet there’s a pity to be had Adapt to the times of when it’s aching It…
Life, as Art by Miki Arrivas
The tentative first lines developing into a steadier stroke, then bold color and daring sweeps. Until an unfortunate spill or the sudden slamming on of brakes, as the canvas goes flying and the frame is broken. Jagged splinters jutting through the canvas. Ohmygoshisitruined??? Wounds. Tears in the fabric of life. Is it even worth attempting…
The Fate of the RMS Resilient by Marian Hesse
They left the warring island, To thrive beyond the sea. Departure was a gamble, An urgent need to flee. Hands entwined with bands adorned, New forged vows still gleaming, Their love will long endure. Lightning strikes, like gods, strode o’er the towering seas. Poseidon’s swirling winds and waves crashed even on the lee. All aboard…
Wet Pebbles by Dominic Kenyon
Why is the water So cold on my back When it steams? Why is the light So cold on my face When it gleams? I am a sack of damp pebbles They churn in hand Why do they scrape as they scream? I am shadow to warmth I am chilled to light I am Oxbow…
Deadfall by Matthew J Frink
Deadfallno-one can see meDeadfallno-one caresDeadfallsurrounded by peopleDeadfallno-one’s thereI’m trappedinside my minddon’t think I’ll make it out this timeI’m stuckhere all aloneDon’t think I’ll ever make it homeEntwinedin my own weboverthinking things I have saidI’m lockedmy own prisonit’s me, I’m a cruel wardenDeadfallno-one can see meDeadfallno-one caresDeadfallsurrounded by peopleDeadfallno-one’s there Biography: What brings me to Aims…