Tag Archives: Miriam N. Kotzin

MIRIAM N KOTZIN: Seashore Relics

Artistic, Submissions, , , , ,

Hole in the left upper, insoles shot, cushioning gone. When I wear them, I find sand between my toes—I haven’t been to Wildwood for fifteen years.

Holding hands, we’d strolled the boardwalk, ferris-wheeled, carrouselled, roller-coastered, oceaned, and beached.

I dangle the sneakers by their laces. They’ve seen better days.

Miriam N. Kotzin writes fiction and poetry. She is the author of five collections of poetry, two collections of short fiction, and two novels—most recently the novel Right This Way (Spuyten Duyvil). Her 50-word stories have been published in 50-Word Stories, 50 Give or Take, and Blink Ink. She teaches literature and creative writing at Drexel University

MIRIAM N KOTZIN: Optimist or Pessimist

Artistic, Submissions, Touching, ,

Auntie Lou’s a singer-songwriter. If a tune doesn’t wander too far from middle C, she can keep up with it. She wrote “Unconditional” in one afternoon, but the surprise-hit B side, “Hopeless,” was her life’s work.

Marriage taught me she got it backwards. The flipside of unconditional is enduring hope.

Miriam N. Kotzin writes fiction and poetry. She is the author of five collections of poetry, two collections of short fiction, and two novels—most recently the novel Right This Way (Spuyten Duyvil). Her 50-word stories have been published in 50-Word Stories, 50 Give or Take, and Blink Ink. She teaches literature and creative writing at Drexel University.

MIRIAM N KOTZIN: The Big One-Way

Adventure, Artistic, Submissions, , , , , ,

On my last visit, Granny fretted. Were the aliens treating Grandpa right? Until now she’d opined that if aliens could do space travel, they shootin’-sure could do the wash and fix a proper dinner. A blessing Grandpa wasn’t fussy about his meals or collars. Her faith in Him remained unshakable.

Miriam N. Kotzin writes fiction and poetry. She is the author of five collections of poetry, two collections of short fiction, and two novels—most recently the novel Right This Way (Spuyten Duyvil). Her 50-word stories have been published in 50-Word Stories, 50 Give or Take, and Blink Ink. She teaches literature and creative writing at Drexel University.

MIRIAM N KOTZIN: Lessons

Artistic, Submissions, , , , ,

A student said she wanted “a next egg”. Next egg. Expresso. Arlene had sacrificed oceans of cappuccinos to build her now-crushed 401(k). Now what?

“Why do we call it ‘nest egg’? What thoughts and feelings go with those words?” Arlene asked and, like Patience on a monument, waited for answers.

Miriam N. Kotzin writes fiction and poetry. She is the author of five collections of poetry, two collections of short fiction, and two novels—most recently the novel Right This Way (Spuyten Duyvil). Her 50-word stories have been published in 50-Word Stories, 50 Give or Take, and Blink Ink. She teaches literature and creative writing at Drexel University.

MIRIAM N KOTZIN: Infinitive: To Sublime

Artistic, Submissions, , ,

Frost ferns covered the windows near Margaret’s bed, and frost painted the sere, feathery grasses in the fields, all motionless in the windless morning until sun caught on ice crystals sparking rainbows, all silent until Margaret summoned a blackbird’s haunting whistle to a frost that would… soon… Margaret exhaled… sublime….

Miriam N. Kotzin writes fiction and poetry. She is the author of five collections of poetry, two collections of short fiction, and two novels—most recently the novel Right This Way (Spuyten Duyvil). Her 50-word stories have been published in 50-Word Stories, 50 Give or Take, and Blink Ink. She teaches literature and creative writing at Drexel University.

MIRIAM N KOTZIN: Provide, Provide

Artistic, Submissions, , ,

They took Hannah and returned a few weeks later for Julian. The hens stopped laying.

When Blue puts his paws on the window sill and complains mournfully to the empty backyard, dread slides like ice down my throat and shivers past my heart until I’ve lost my last safe place.

Miriam N. Kotzin writes fiction and poetry. She is the author of five collections of poetry, two collections of short fiction, and two novels—most recently the novel Right This Way (Spuyten Duyvil). Her 50-word stories have been published in 50-Word Stories, 50 Give or Take, and Blink Ink. She teaches literature and creative writing at Drexel University.

MIRIAM N KOTZIN: Change

Stories, , ,

Weeknights Jack had emptied his pockets into a cracked blue bowl on their bureau. Fridays they’d count the money and splurge: chips, beer, a pay-for-view. They’d wrangled over crumpled dollar bills, over what to choose. Wrangled, Jack thought, over everything. He missed their wrangling. Missed counting. He hated the change.

Miriam N. Kotzin writes fiction and poetry. She is the author of five collections of poetry, two collections of short fiction, and two novels—most recently the novel Right This Way (Spuyten Duyvil). Her 50-word stories have been published in 50-Word Stories, 50 Give or Take, and Blink Ink. She teaches literature and creative writing at Drexel University.

MIRIAM N KOTZIN: Covid-19 2020

Artistic, Submissions, , , , , ,

The young father presses his hands flat against the window. Although the mask covers half his face, the baby knows him. New game. Laughing, she reaches for the father’s hands, cool glass between them.

She lifts her arms, “Up.” Old game.

The father’s learned the new rules: he turns away.

Miriam N. Kotzin teaches creative writing and literature at Drexel University. Her collection of short fiction, Country Music (Spuyten Duyvil Press 2017), joins a novel, The Real Deal (Brick House Press 2012), and a collection of flash fiction, Just Desserts (Star Cloud Press 2010). She is the author of five collections of poetry, most recently Debris Field (David Robert Books 2017).

MIRIAM N KOTZIN: Arrangement in Grey and Black, No. 1 By James Whistler

Amusing, Submissions, , ,

“You needn’t stand.” Whistler smiles, solicitous, his hand on the chairback. “Sit here, Mother. Look straight ahead.”

He arranges her hands, fusses with the fall and folds of delicate white lace.

She wriggles free. “I’ll get your socks to darn, Jemie. I can’t just sit here doing nothing, wasting time.

Miriam N. Kotzin teaches creative writing and literature at Drexel University. Her collection of short fiction, Country Music (Spuyten Duyvil Press 2017), joins a novel, The Real Deal (Brick House Press 2012), and a collection of flash fiction, Just Desserts (Star Cloud Press 2010). She is the author of five collections of poetry, most recently, Debris Field (David Robert Books 2017).

MIRIAM N KOTZIN: Acrophobic Reaches New Heights on a Date

Submissions, Touching, , , ,

The Ferris wheel’s gigantic blue neon star looms. Waiting in line I feign delight, but I shudder when the bar clicks shut, locking us in our swaying rickety seats.

He hugs me. “I’d better tell you now,” he says, “heights make me queasy…”

Before I can answer, we swing skyward.

Miriam N. Kotzin teaches creative writing and literature at Drexel University. Her collection of short fiction, Country Music (Spuyten Duyvil Press 2017), joins a novel, The Real Deal (Brick House Press 2012), and a collection of flash fiction, Just Desserts (Star Cloud Press 2010). She is the author of five collections of poetry, most recently, Debris Field (David Robert Books 2017).