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Romantique by Jonathan B. Ferrini
“I live in a world of spring showers of acrylic and watercolor droplets painting the score on the pavement of a Chopin Nocturne.” These were the last words my brother said to me ten years ago at dad’s funeral. I welcomed the opportunity to see him and express my regret for the lost time…
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Freedom by Gretchen Gossett
I often wonder if Azari would’ve been okay if I’d kept my secret to myself. Maybe she would’ve gone home to her parents, settled for a husband she’d learn to love. When I first saw Azari strutting across campus in her platform heels, low cut blouse, and miniskirt that revealed the curve of her ass…
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Fiery Quilt by Nandy Dibyasree
The Seamstress. That was what she was known as, the most omniscient witch in all of existence. She held in her palms the tapestries of every world amidst the crevices that peered through time and space. Each era, each incident, each recollection, was etched into her omnipotent needles. Regarded as the Stitcher, the Embroiderer, she…
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Gold by Jim Bates
Wearing a pink tank top and tights, Lindsey Copeland danced out of her corner into the center of the ring. Her opponent, a kid named Frankie she knew from her seventh-grade art class, approached her confidently. She could see him smirking and she knew exactly what he was thinking. You’re going down, little girl. Or…
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Blank Screen by Bruce Gunther
All this day with its weight of stone –with its terrible freight of unmoving time. The walls inch closer as we cometo grips with the torpor of sameness. Let’s do something, anything, we say,even if it’s simply flipping the bum a quarter. What genius is he hiding, after all, ensconcedunder his heap of blankets as…
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Breezed, From Maine by Meg Peters
Literary illusions,chased, I bite my tongue, the phonograph is still,listen close, lean in nowthe past sounds like an interstate a phonograph or a window, city traffic hums,I wonder what you think about, things have been quiet, here, but maybe one day we will drive, past falling leaves, August rain. and we will listen,we will pray,and…
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GOODBYE GOODBYE by Lara Abuali
In my dreams you come to meemaciated and starving, a sick dog,clinging onto my arm.You took and took, pulling the marrowfrom my bones until I was empty.I watched you as you grew and grew,the gluttony taking hold until I had no flesh left.Still it wasn’t enough.Your mouth was slick with A, B, AB, O(though I…
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A Pond Discovery by John Grey
The pond is almost hiddenin thick rushesbut I spy the periscopeof an egret head,hear the rattling cryof a kingfisher.There are no secretsfrom the eyes and ears. It’s wider and deeperthan I expected.Enough to interesta merganser pair.Enough amphibian mating callsto form a belching choir. Fish, too tiny to name,slither about the mossy rocks.Painted turtles bask on…
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The Biology of Courage by Mark Blickley and Katya Shubova
My name is Jull Soares and I am a bastard. This is not a particular opinion that I, or anyone else that I’m aware of, has placed on me. It is objective truth. My mother was an unlicensed sex worker and neither she or I have any inkling of who fathered me, although a couple…
