Born of love, raised in the streets, Commitment to school confirms: Young woman, full, bright future. Her mother struck down by germs. Microbial moves that stalk Her hands, surfaces and crowds; Washing cannot cleanse the fear, Hidden war within the shroud. Its method, prey on the weak Contaminate, its attack Knowledge and strategy armed Her only plan to fight back Academic scholarship, […]
An Exploration of Social Mores and Normative Behaviours, by Ed Pongklub
Subjects: King William III and Rolf. King William III was lounging lazily at the far end of the small, tidy room when Rolf strolled in. His eyes lit up and he called out, “Ah! Rolf, just the one I was looking for.” “You were looking for me?” Rolf asked, cocking his head to one side. “Well, I was considering maybe looking for you later,” […]
Mamihlapinatapai, a story by Keshia L. Nowden
Leo (a very deep, stimulating baritone comes through the phone): Hello? Letitia (breathless at the sound of Leo’s voice): Hey, Blue Eyes. Leo: Oh, Brown Sugar, how I’ve missed you. Keeping out of trouble? Letitia: When have I NOT? Leo (laughing as though she could see him slightly blushing): Good question. You’ve been a good girl for your Big Daddy at least? Letitia: Kinda […]
Alexithymia, a story by Elaine Fisher
Five-year old Alex surveyed his surroundings, data streaming into his eyes and ears. He watched his baby sister looking out through the crib railing, her soft cry becoming a wail. Almost immediately, he clasped his hands over his ears. Following a prescribed exercise, he dutifully mimicked the baby by contorting his face, moving his fingers along his gaping mouth, feeling his facial expression, and finally […]
A Writer’s Lament, by Todd Hogan – A “Found” poem
I awake after a night of anxious dreams to discover that I had not yet been transformed into a monstrous, verminous Franz Kafka. A screaming comes across the bedroom. Happy writers are all alike; every unhappy writer is unhappy in his own way. Call me Melville. Catch-22 was love at first sight. All Vonnegut happened, more or less. It was a dark and stormy night; […]
The Longing, by Mary O’Brien Glatz
The new light of day seeps in the cracks between slats of wooden window blinds. A dark ocean of dreams still swirls inside her. She flutters open her eyes. Her arms and legs stretch to the cracking of joints. Dull aches remind her of the long journey from her home over the mountain pass. She is here, in the third floor guest room just above […]
The Fall, by Arah Ko
I saved the leaves, plucked them from the sidewalk, salvation from the rubber soles of children’s shoes. Mama said they were beautiful, all webbed and veined, crimson, as if blood pumped through them still but yesterday I found them shriveled, paper thin and winter dry, brown, crackling around the edges. I cried, cradled them in the nest of my fingers, laid them […]
Touched, by Tanasha Martin
One More Day. A thin stream of water travels up my nose and to the back of my throat. I struggle with quick gasps. My wedding? No, that’s tomorrow. Cold spatters my face preventing my eyes from opening. Shower? I love warm water streaming down my skin. It is a sensation I long for daily, since skin to skin contact is prohibited between people. Claire, […]
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