Touch and Taste by Jeff Flesch

every little touch, and taste takes me to another place desire afire, living inside the tranquility of the seas with dark blue and indigo too a backdrop of the love inside our truth they live in the skies burnt amber, and copper filled jewels, raining down love on me and you -JEFF FLESCH Jeff grew…

Enigma by Joni Caggiano

fading, my heart envisions a ripe fig molting tan skin lying like a sad mason jar empty, left alone, with a scar odors float like memories sparrows sing their hope your face a repeat movie reel fingers weep aching to feel your body folding into mine tears of laughter jumping rolling over hills of bare…

AQUA – Part 3

(A short story in Vietnamese by Trần Băng Khuê, translation into English by Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm) PART 1- PART 2- PART 3- I took Aqua to a forest full of soothing leaves and lullabies. I took Aqua to my forest that particular day, the forest bed was thick with fallen leaves. But as they…

It was July then by Bharath Upendra

The rain was as unpredictable as the food they made at the food outlet adjacent to the bus stop that no-one frequents and no bus stops at. The highway had trucks lined up during the night and was almost deserted in the afternoons when I rode 25 kilometres from home just for the heck of…

Cosmic Radiance by Jeff Flesch

I walk along the forest floor, watching as the mysteries pour forth blooming evergreen weeds, struggling up through the ground looking to see if anyone’s around they always wink at me relating a resilience and a broad-spectrum playfulness hidden inside the stars heavens, a mirror takes two seconds more to notice in the dew lingering…

AQUA – Part 2

(A short story in Vietnamese by Trần Băng Khuê, translation into English by Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm) PART 1- PART 2- The dying atmosphere. Honestly, I couldn’t breathe on such days. The opening in my ears would slowly shut down. I would shut my ears to the sad stories of the world. Thus, in the…

Koto no Yume by Michael L. Utley

In dreamland forests of my soul I hear What deafened ears in waking cannot know A yearning in konara groves That lilts in silent soft-edged shadows calls The stream conversing with the hart has hushed Its liquid-silver voice now mute As herons ankle-deep in currents pause And reverently bow in pious prayer The insects cease…

AQUA

(A short story in Vietnamese by Trần Băng Khuê, translation into English by Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm) PART 1– There were only wolves on the moon. The wolves live on the moon. Then, what will you find in the forest? Aqua. Aqua. Aqua. Someone’s soundless voice cut across the darkness. The fifteenth. The full moon…

Pretty Jessica by Ayieko Sami

So we’ve heeded the advice, And stopped to smell the roses Pretty Jessica in the playground swinging, jumping In dresses so colorful, our hearts smile Them in pink flora dresses riding bicycles- Chasing those in white Our pretty Jessica just wants us to show up, And be there when they step onto the next step…

Forest of Light by Joni Caggiano

speak to me thru languages of noble trees  seducing flesh softly with feather fingers vast sorrows seen with linking filters of blue sealing eyes, stirring inducing, aching for you birds move with beating hearts, as we rise a doe bends a seedling for a taste of new tears drop on silk pillowcase releasing sigh turtle…

Woman’s Eye by Gargi Sidana

Lashes extended to  Soften mother’s earth  Prowled in a nasty web, To ooze child’s pain Nothing left to annihilate; What she gains Nagging in the goddess’s lap; Liberating her from pain As if silicon lie carved,  Into a vivacious brain.  She self-sabotages her powers  In a fabricated chain Laid a crimson skin on the facial…

Fiery Lake by Jeff Flesch

love lives in each heartbeat and breath we take, regardless of past mistakes and the pain we rake like mist that takes me on a trip down memory lane and into the fiery lake I transpire. lingering on the petal of a flower and, within an hour? clarity becomes truth just like the love, I…

Bookmark Page 64 by Don Matthews

True story I have a library book Borrowed for to read It does look rather interesting An interest which need To take me ‘way from poetry And give my mind a rest This book I think will do the trick A nice and welcome guest I’ve just got to page 64 Plot and people weave…

The Beautiful Woman by Shobana Gomes

I know that I am a wonder to you, Hailing from someplace unknown, I stand on beaches that seas rush to, With sand on my feet to show. O hail the sky, That measures up to me, And treats me as the beautiful one, A woman am I, Distrusting you see, Of the camouflage that…

Nine Months Later…A Big THANK YOU!

All I feel is gratitude. MASTICADORESINDIA began its publishing journey on September 1, 2021. At the time, I wasn’t sure how things would progress. It was a leap of faith and creativity, and I think it’s safe to say that we have landed smoothly on our feet. This couldn’t have been possible without the talented…

Summer Moment by Joni Caggiano

can you sense me noiseless in midair between long grey hovering moss for only cypress moments live there time slides off my round hips into light hummingbirds toss nectar impishly rainbows play hide and seek out of sight hay plays a tune, crickets spin a yarn sweet whiffs of hay encircling me God’s vista smiles…