Featured Works: Week of Sept. 14 (Personal History)
You ever hear the expression “the personal is political”? Well, oftentimes, so is our personal history, with our emotions interlocking with the way we view the past. Today’s contributors take us on a journey into yesteryear. “Imagine That,” a poem by Bruce McRae, contemplates different ways of viewing the past. “What You Can’t See,” a flash fiction piece by Louis M. Abbey, centers on a haunting memory of war. “Moira,” a flash fiction piece by Lorna Wood, reflects on an unforgettable grad-school...
Read MoreFeatured Works: Week of Sept. 7 (Nature Meets Art)
As long as humans have been singing, painting, chanting, writing and sculpting, we have been inspired by nature. This week’s contributors, all poets, share different ways that art and the natural world may intersect. “How to Spot a Knock-Off” by Megan Merchant imagines ways of turning nature into living works of art. “Beauty, Flawed” by James Von Hendy praises the aesthetics of imperfection. “Flight Lines” by Kevin Casey muses on the residual effects of wildlife entering human space. “Suburban Choka No. 4,” also by Kevin Casey, meditates on lawn...
Read MoreFeatured Works: Week of August 31 (Fate)
The ancient debate of “free will versus fate” is revisited by this week’s contributors, who muse on the nexus between personal choices and external forces. “Before the Contract,” a poem by Sean Lause, depicts the cyclical tedium of factory work. Anthony Botti’s poem, “Lot’s Confession,” revisits an oft-told biblical tale. Jack Freeman’s poem, “9525,” tries to make sense of a baffling recent aviation tragedy. “Landslide,” a short story by Elizabeth Cooper, provides a close-up view of the barely...
Read MoreFeatured Works: Week of August 24 (Connection)
This week, Wild Violet’s contributors are addressing various types of connection, from work relationships to strangers to telepathy. In “Visiting,” a poem by Michael Mark, a hospice worker interacts with a patient whose memory falters. In “Smoker’s Cross,” a short story by Leonard Scott, officer workers form an uneasy bond during a smoking break. The non-fiction piece “Type-setting Tunes” by Terry Barr shows how he once found common ground with a much older co-worker. The short story “Reaching” by Patrick Kelly Joyner follows a...
Read MoreFeatured Works: Week of August 17 (Secrets)
Unknown streak Psst… Can our contributors tell you something? “Making Safe to Tell” by Vicki Mandell-King is a poem about the delicate art of discussing family secrets. In “Rushing” by John Hedren, a retired football player finally discusses a famous fumble. The poem “Where I’m From” by Amy Barone recalls teenage moments of rebellion. In the short story, “D&M” by Ann Lamparski, a nursing home resident relives her past. Dan Grote’s “The Meet” creates a sense of unease as a lifelong criminal awaits an...
Read MoreFeatured Works: Week of August 10 (Summer Memories)
As we in the Northern Hemisphere luxuriate in the final weeks of summer, this seemed a perfect time to share some reflections on the season. “Edinburgh Rock” by Joanna M. Weston recalls the tastes and sights of a childhood vacation memory. “Housekeeping” by Anthony Botti reflects on hot summer days spent cleaning with his mother, instead of swimming. “The Blue Hour” by Anthony Botti peers deeply into the summer...
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