KATHERINE DARLINGTON: Hope Hides

Submissions, Touching, , , ,

The daisies died
But she saved the
Rose petals and
Gently placed them
In a small, glass bowl

Later, the market was quiet:
No one
Noticed when she placed
A small bouquet of flowers
In her basket

The roses wore colors
Of late November sunsets…
Then her heart’s
Eyes
Closed.

Katherine Darlington has articles in many publications including poetry anthologies, along with several published novels. When she isn’t riding horses or hiking on some mountain trail, she’s working on a story. See more of her work at katherinedarlington.com.

DON NIGRONI: The Primordial Monad’s Monologue

Artistic, Poetry, Submissions, , ,

Before B.C., beyond A.D.,
the only being would be me.
Above the best, below the least,
I make the famine and the feast.
Seek everywhere and round about
in every place, without a doubt,
there is no space where I am not.
That is my fate, such is my lot.

Don Nigroni is a retired labor economist and volunteer Weed Warrior at the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge.

ANDY HEDGECOCK: A Puzzling Bequest

Amusing, Submissions, , , ,

After hours of rummaging, he found the key taped to the back of his mother’s favourite watercolour. He rushed to the safe – no cash, no jewellery, just a handwritten note: “Disorderly postmen I’d paint, or something you learn to live with (14).” He’d always enjoyed anagrams, but this produced disappointment.

Andy Hedgecock’s disappointing inheritance is a name that doesn’t lend itself to the creation of anagrams. He is a freelance writer and obsessive cruciverbalist from Nottinghamshire, UK.

MARC SIMON: Birthday Cake

Submissions, Touching, , , , ,

The recipe called for a quarter cup of spiced rum. She drank the rest of the rum while the cake baked. After it had cooled, she frosted the layers and put it on the table next to his birthday card. Then she lit the candles.

He would have been nine.

Marc Simon’s short fiction has appeared in several literary magazines. Five of his one-act plays have been winners in various new works contests. His debut novel, The Leap Year Boy was published in December, 2012. In a former life Marc was a comedian in a sketch comedy group. Marc lives in Naples, Florida. View his work at marcsimonwriter.com.

NICK YOUNG: Haiku

Amusing, Poetry, Submissions, Top Stories, , , , , ,

He set himself a poet’s challenge: to catch the lightning flash of life within the form — five, seven, five — ancient, timeless, perfect. With great care, he smoothed the rice paper, tipped his brush with indigo ink and wrote:

Brittle dawn air stirs
Quickening steps through hoarfrost
Miles ahead, hot tea

Nick Young is an award-winning retired journalist whose career included twenty years as a CBS News correspondent. His writing has appeared as part of the episodic novel “The Whole Wide World” (Sweetycat Press) and in the San Antonio Review, Short Story Town, CafeLit Magazine, Fiery Scribe Review, 50-Word Stories, Pigeon Review and Vols. I and II of the Writer Shed Stories anthologies.

SARAH MARIE LIDDLE: Motherhood

Artistic, Submissions, , , ,

She sits on the couch.
Lego is scattered all around her living room floor.
Her son went back to school last week.
She gazes out the window.
She is glad to see Spring.
She looks out for the mailman.
No packages. Not yet, anyway.
She boils the kettle once more.

Sarah Marie Liddle wrote this story.

JACKSON COURTER: Zarathustra 2000

Adventure, Artistic, Submissions, , , ,

The corporate trappings of the day melted away with the growing flames and the dawning darkness of night. Neighbors shrugged at the sight of a man sitting alone in front of a fire. As they watched television, he watched the coming of the eschaton, beautiful and terrible, merciful and fierce.

Jackson Courter is a linguist and writer based in Illinois. He is currently exploring the intersection of linguistics and cartography. Learn more at jacksoncourter.wordpress.com.

STELLA FERNANDEZ: Roses

Poetry, Submissions, Touching, , , ,

When sunlight kisses
the queens of flowers,
their petals blossom
in most beautiful colours,
their fragrance dances
to the melodies of winds.

Within these moments
I only miss
one of the loveliest roses
I have ever met.

In loving memory of Rosy.
May your soul rest in peace forever, grandma.

Stella Fernandez wrote this poem for her grandmother’s death anniversary on October 23.

BOB THURBER: Touched on a Hallowed Eve

Artistic, Submissions, , , ,

If you already believe in ghosts there’s no need to read further.
It’s the hard-nosed cynics I’m hoping to save.
I used to be one, a skeptic who respectfully suppressed laughing in a true believer’s face.
Until I realized nearly all the great literary masters keep whispering from the grave.

Bob Thurber is the author of six books. Regarded as a master of Flash and Micro Fiction, his work has appeared in Esquire and other magazines, been anthologized 60 times, received a long list of awards, and been utilized in schools and colleges throughout the world. He resides in Massachusetts. Visit his website at BobThurber.net.