Traveling under ground, always one woman reads Good News, crinkling words— onion-skinned verses; where her Savior speaks, little bloody marks. Man in wool and beard deciphers minuscule squares— scripture buttressed in thick walls of comment. Hard-luck men croon, “Little light of mine, gonna let it…” Three-part harmony. Smirk for a dollar. Once, a monk— burgundy … Continue reading
Monthly Archives: December 2014
Stupid Childish Ecstasy — Alan Jernigan
Some people are having a really good time over there. Over in the darkness, a blob of diaper creepers herds itself over to a tattered lake. I’m going to go to sleep and inevitably dream about something better than my life. I have a hard time believing that the most common name ever is John … Continue reading
Comfort Loop — Alan Jernigan
I want to make a prayer to pray to. “Dear Prayer,” I’ll start, as if the prayer itself were something to pray to. I’ll say “Dear Prayer, would you please . . .” and then make some sort of humble demand. It’s like writing a book that’s just the word “book” written over and over. … Continue reading
Life — Dan Morris
The moon is over head, like any romantic movie would dictate. The sand on the dunes is cooling from the day’s constant sunlight. He stands next to her as she talks about her art class and how the summer won’t change what they’ve started just a week ago. He thinks this is what college is … Continue reading
Place Setting — Myron Ernst
A day peeps in, a day peters out; so it is for all days, coming up, going down, and all it takes to make it so is that the dessert fork be set above the plate, and that the dinner fork be placed left of the plate on its napkin, folded just so, neatly, corner … Continue reading
Directory Assistance, How May I Direct Your Call? — Matthew Woodman
They say the mind is the first to go. I wouldn’t know. I’ve always been too slow and prone to distraction. Sometimes the heart is a bloody stone. Sometimes it won’t start. Other times it does nothing but eat. Hunger keeps you coming back to see if it’s possible to keep growing. If it’s possible … Continue reading
Fly Ribbon — Vladimir Swirynsky
There must be people who are fascinated with fly ribbon, who hand them as ornaments or squeeze the bottom portion into bottle tops so they look like a bouquet of flowers. The flies can’t resist the red hot mangoes in the eye, the slanted light of Buddha, slow dancing with a partner that wouldn’t let … Continue reading
Disrepair — Canon Parker
When I was a boy I had a drawer of toys in my room. Now they are all broken of course, even the old dresser. I left it by a dumpster in the alley. I remember laying on the floor of the YMCA swimming pool looking up at the legs kicking wildly overhead, the pressure … Continue reading
Rewind (Pangaea) — Tanner Brossart
Many would like to go back And fix problems long forgotten By everyone but them; I would like to rewind to When continents were one And watch them reunite, Cozy like lovers Once more. Continue reading
Rejection — Tanner Brossart
Every morning, on my way To work, I see a coffee cup On the ground Spilling its contents into the world. A hint of mocha mixes with many automobile Exhausts. I recognize the logo on the receipt Taped to the cup, the shop it came from Isn’t too bad. Maybe a bit bitter, but warmer … Continue reading
Coe Review 