Poetry & Prose...from Prompts
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Push (a pantoum) by Christopher Cotton My mentor said, “It’s more than talent If you want your work to be seen. You’ll have to put in the legwork— Not stay hidden behind a screen.” If you want your work to be seen, You cannot shelter in introversion. Nor stay hidden behind a screen— Few people … … Continue reading →
Stern Words from a Bus Driver by Jennifer H. Monaghan As I skipped up the front steps of the bus that had just screeched to a sudden stop, a grim-faced driver snapped at me. “Young lady, don’t ever do that again. It’s better to be late to school, than early to heaven.” Funny old man, … … Continue reading →
Origin III: Learning That Daddy Still Never Says “I’m Sorry” by A.E. Abitz I can still picture his once dismissive, looming frame, dispensing the precepts of my youth: sometimes you have to do things you don’t want to— Daddy: the ultimate doler of lessons, of the sine qua non, now slogs away at work daily, … … Continue reading →
Bukowski Chugs Cheap Beer @ the No-No a Go-Go by Joan Jobe Smith Bukowski laughed har har har when I told him I’d been a go-go girl for 7 years, the bad luck time for breaking a mirror, minimum sentence for a felony conviction. In 1973 Bukowski’d thought me one of those feminists who wanted … … Continue reading →
How to Embrace an Aura of Charm by Nancy Smiler Levinson My friend Selene was exceptionally pretty no dental braces soft curly hair Bermuda shorts and tops perfectly ironed she was always adorned with a hair bow or set of barrettes to match each adorable outfit In high school she was voted homecoming queen courted … … Continue reading →
Meeting a Real Artist for the First Time by Trevor Owen Jones I was taking saxophone lessons of all things and next door was a fledgling art gallery. I stuck my head in one day, and a guy starts talking my head off right away among giant crosses with targets on them and unstretched canvas … … Continue reading →
Instructions for Resurrection by B.J. Buckley Look for the tightest weave of grass, cement-hard clot of mud, still holding last year’s nest to the storm-stripped branch. Winnow the grass with your icy fingers — the wind does — tall grass that has laid itself down like a shroud. Bones of a fox kit. Small grey … … Continue reading →
Vermont Book of Tragediesby Tom Lagasse The pages are yellowed and dog-eared,and the title on the broken spine evokesenough misery to leave it untouched On the shelf of memory. My grandmother,the fun one, who took us on adventuresin her Malibu convertible and found mischief Like a teenager, told them most oftenat our large family picnics … … Continue reading →
Iron Creek Trail by Tammy Iralu All week the poet cast lines of poetry. When it was time to resume a morning hike, the notebook, lodged under a log, was forgotten. The fisherman advised: “Catch and release.” IMAGE: Three fish. Prints available at etsy. NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: I first shared “Iron Creek Trail” on … … Continue reading →
Thanks, Ruth by Beth Fox My brothers and I race around the alley, cursing and jostling, while next door behind the picket fence with a gate lives the family of our Catholic neighbors. When Ruth invites me in, I speak low, so as not to disturb her mother. Their house is nothing like ours, where … … Continue reading →
