Morning Dew

the sun, broken down             into particles and rays sparkling through the morning dew on my windshield before I slip into another work day

Where We Rent

We must hate our parents             And ourselves                         We Americans, driven To erase all trace of our, and their, progress             On the landscape. Each site, landmark, seen As a blank canvas. What is this need? Is each strike of the wrecking ball an expression of relief or regret? Failure or success? Our hubris…

Intersection of Fiction and Poetry

Fiction and poetry are often treated as different types of writing—and they are. I think, however, that the most beautiful writing happens when the two intersect. Poetic passages within fiction that paint an emotive, vivid picture transport our minds and souls. Poetry that tells us a story as well as affects us can teach us…

We Drink

we drink each Friday night: we drink to forget the dead end jobs that pay our bills we drink to laugh, though we sometimes cry we drink for courage we drink to slough off this weight we carry for people who do not have food or water or alcohol to forget. we forget for a…

White Dwarf

A meteor shower lights up the sky behind you, creating a halo, shadowing your face as you begin to speak. Watching the sky explode and die, dusts of stars and comets, traces of the galaxy they shared.  Endless, to a point.  The death of a sun as it erupts, shining brighter and burning away the…

Seven

Hit with a scent memory, cascading whiffs of cigarette smoke mingling with Dove soap. Suddenly taken back, back to early childhood. To Maw Maw’s house. Age seven. And it’s a real memory. Seen through my eyes as I saw it then. It’s not a memory reconstructed, where you see yourself as well as what you…

Werekitty

stalking her prey a weaponless paw emerges from beneath the dust ruffle to berate a passing foot with puff-ball assault when the initial attack is unsatisfactory, the whole beast lunges to spin a mad ballet around the leg of her owner a bite to his Achilles’ heel yields satisfactory results: a kick sends her screaming…

Ring In

Is it joy or hope or self-destruction fueling a mad-dash end and raucous beginning? New chances and dreams littered among old wreckage of who we were and are. Mourning helps you see through empty traditions and false expectations. Ring in! Ring in! Ring in! Was I the only one with my fingers crossed on the…

when frost comes early to a widow’s garden

worrying about her roses          the old woman glanced          through window panes. she wrung her hands, wrought with frantic agitation. such beautiful blooms took time and tender care. she stood feebly upon her frail legs, twisted like dogwood. hobbling, wheezing, she trudged across her floor like swamp moss….

A study of Medea as a subordinate female character

memories of youth, she leans on, a cane that hobbles and holds. A faded photo, yellowed, her face puckers in whispers repeated into creases around her lips. this strange land she now calls home, loveless, childless. counting the treasures of her life. broken vows and unkept promises litter her bed. her mind had raged but…