Inheritance
At my mother’s house Children’s laughter no longer rings through sunlit rooms A family of one has settled in But days are long here Nature bewitches Fall’s brilliant yellow leaves shine on rainy days The barrenness of winter doesn’t disappoint Spring’s lush green uplifts the darkest mood On muggy summer nights crickets hold concerts that lull me to sleep At my mother’s house I write mornings from my Haverford haven A collage of sentiments stain loose-leaf journals We’re both now free from the familial thunder In my mother’s house I finally have a vacation home Only two hours...
Read MoreWhen Ann Calls
“What about ‘Kate’? Kate, Katherine, Katie, Katerina…” She tried the names out, savoring the sound of them, imagining herself calling them—“Katie, come get your snack!” “Katerina, it’s time for your nap!” “No, not ‘Kate.’” The old man folded his newspaper, keeping one finger tucked firmly inside so he could find where he had left off reading. “It makes me think of Katherine Hepburn, and you know how I feel about her.” “You don’t like her because she was independent,” the old woman retorted, but with little heat. It was an old familiar argument...
Read MoreFeatured Works: Week of Nov. 24 (Thanksgiving)
Best wishes to all of our American readers celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday. This week’s offerings tie in with both “Turkey Day” and with the early snow that has blanketed much of the East Coast of the U.S. In the short story “Beggar’s Choice” by Cheril Thomas, a college student finds herself while spending Thanksgiving with a wealthy roomie’s family. In the poem “Plow” by Ed Granger, an unexpected snowfall triggers contemplation and...
Read MorePlow
The plow drones through before dawn blinking amber, like an owl robbed by a cat strike of one eye and made to search for dinner face-aslant. Upstairs, that same light circumnavigates gray walls, accelerates through corners, as if afraid of being captured like the rings trapped by the pair of swollen knuckles dozing there beneath Egyptian cotton sheets. The forecast didn’t auger this much snow, as it also sometimes fails to warn of cats with razors mounted on their front paws. A renewed search for a missing doll awaits, ideal proportions and runway face dropped from a backpack somewhere...
Read MoreBeggar’s Choice
From the day they first met in their dorm room, Arless Stanford adored her roommate. Miranda Bridgewell, with her bubbly personality and generous heart, adopted shy, awkward Arless, who blossomed under the unaccustomed attention. Away from Detroit and a high school hierarchy in which she stood somewhere between the Untouchables and the Neutrals, Arless came out of her shell and followed Miranda into the world of the Specials. If Arless sometimes felt Miranda was a little too energetic, loud and demanding of attention, Arless saw it as her own personal failing such opinions could occur to...
Read MoreFeatured Works: Week of Nov. 17 (Family)
As the Thanksgiving holiday draws near in the United States, a holiday traditionally focusing on family, our contributors show us different facets of family life and love. “Baby,” a poem by Leslie Philibert, pays homage to the very beginning of a family, in the moments before birth. “Sibling Rivalry,” a poem by Ruth Gooley, reflects on the childhood relationship between a brother and sister. “Rachel,” a poem by Sarah Carleton, depicts the overwhelming feelings of bringing home a newborn. “Blue Angel,” a poem by Jan Ball, delves into the nuances of marriage, drawing on images...
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