Musical Heart by Jeff Flesch

morning tranquility broken and crumbled, my part of ashes spread all over the flower garden and within the nest of my heart made out of sticks and stones you gave to me through words made up of dried bones it’s just like that sometimes, we want so desperately to fall in line with that which…

What If by Michelle Ayon – Navajas

what if we didn’t meet?  what if it didn’t happen?  what if our hearts did not collide?  what if our bodies did not unite?  ’twas like a movie, in full production  i was the star, and you; just being you, in anticipation  you said your “hello,” i think i said “hi” in return  i felt…

The Lovely Lady Who… by Britta Benson

For this man, I’m just the lovely lady who comes in once a week and plays Ludo with him. He has no idea why I visit. Perhaps, he thinks, I’m a community volunteer, like those do-gooder older women in pale lilac cashmere cardigans, widows, who seem to spend all their free time knitting more pale…

Empty Nest by Jeff Flesch

the pain comes to me in the afternoon as I sit in front of the tree meant for you and me I cannot hide from the tears inside they well up and finally, come forth in my heart and on my cheeks, they do intone a lingering in the midst of our tryst, as I…

Helios of Pain by Jeff Flesch

birds fly through the sky as in my heart our love always resides flittering and mistaking a beat or two for a remedy made of oranges that are blue in an afternoon of love-making combined with two souls partaking in each other, hand in hand and as I gasp, before the rendering is complete a…

Moon’s Dust by Jeff Flesch

drips drop from the top of a stopwatch as the minutes until we meet cascade over my heart watching the fear depart say you’ll love me until the last act of the art leaves forever and may we impart and imprint upon our collective souls the deep need for a fire so bold continuing to…

Recycling Time by Joni Caggiano

inhaling grey dust my dying skin red cells pump time within your cells mixing a sour soup of my regret our broken loop floating away now tasting you allay soaring on in a sky dazzling blue -JONI CAGGIANO Joni’s blog is Rum and Robots, where she has published poetry, photography, and short stories. Take a…

Heaven in a Hole in the Wall by Bogdan Dragos

honestly the soul-crushing loneliness can only be matched by the soul-crushing company of shitty people Is there even a middle path anymore? He asked this question to the hole he punched in the wall of his bedroom It was now an empty bedroom after his lover left days ago to be with some coworker or…

Pow-er by Bharath Upendra

The world is falling apart. People are moving away and there’s so much chaos inside. Coffee is tasteless this morning, breakfast, bland. Skin tastes saltier, face is drier than ever. How am I gonna live with myself? It’s too cold outside. The place where I stand, everything revolves around this. Sometimes, my head spins along….

Blue Shoes by Jeff Flesch

shadows trace my fingers, a space of wonder filled with lace as other contexts make haste sending to my heart delicate fabrics, my mind’s eye, reminds me of times fire the nostalgia burns in bright colors, amber hues, and blue shoes filled will pebbles from our past, each one a memory — wispy-thin, and filled…

Collective Heritage by Joni Caggiano

sparkling eyes jump to blue skies laughter cracking like popcorn off pinecones while the sun sighs an echo, a reflection of my face joy creates sunbeams in her smile a bald eagle spots us in this place new roots toss footballs with dad blankets of earth’s carpet supple vibrating with merriment, now sad as end…

Running Through the Flowers by Jeff Flesch

the road unfolds along a dirt abode, where travelers come together seeking shelter from the storm rising with the sun, learning more in the afternoon glow, hints of colors so vivid, we are off and on the run towards the sunset, looking to the love within the window we’ve called forth on this conquest, we…

Rainbows in the Night by Janani Arvind

how could we ever hold hands with our fists closed so tight we are still walking alone vary of the rolling stones could we ever go forward forgetting all the bruises of the past black eyes and sleepless cries waiting for a sunrise did we ever look past the waves to see the drowning ocean…

And There They Are by M. Taggart

“Now, with that?” “I’ll go with what my sorry wants.” “And again with power of persuasion?” She stroked her glass of wine. Often she felt alone. “It’s what I see when I walk.” “What are we going to do though? Really?” “I’m going to pay and leave. You can stay here.” The waiter came, heard,…

Don’t Think Like a Human by Bogdan Dragos

it was a sad sight lately and the sounds coming from it were even sadder Such was the house of humans Full of shouts and objects banging and breaking against the walls, curses against gods, against parents, death threats, agony and grief and pure rage destruction But not being humans the two of them watched…

Fire in the River by Mercedes Freedman

Jafar says goodbye to the policeman who knocked on his door a while earlier. He goes to the dining-room where his eyes come to rest on the table, laid for dinner with Hadi when he comes home from university. He will have to get used to his meals without his son from now on.  He…