“The Maid’s Confession” by Tony Ashenden

(La confession de la Bonne)Jeanne d’Arc; by her contemporaries commonly known as la Pucelle (the Maid).Born at Domremy in Champagne, probably on 6 January 1412; died at Rouen, 30 May, 1431. I was born with heaven awake my friendright and wrong in the blood.A cock was the heraldin the dark of the night, andchurch bells welcomed the sun. What I saw…

“Dreams of Contentment: A Review of Jeff Weddle’s ‘How It Went to Pieces’” by Peter Mladinic

In “Lost in America,” life is a journey “with no clear destination.”  The best part of the journey is love, an antidote to “beer drunk days, broken nights,” and “friends who seemed like forever,” an antidote to “no good answers” and “lies held dear.”  How It Went To Pieces is a response to the lack of…

“The Wish as a Weed” by Laurie Kuntz

Unearthing the dandelionfrom a spray of pansiesthe white globe pappus parachutes into air. The lore of one whisper,and a wish dispersesinto the wiles of wind. The dandelion’s many monikers: Lion’s tooth, wild endive, puffball, telltime, So many names to carry our hunger,among the plans of potted pansies,weeding the dander is the gardener’s crime. I leave the telltime rampage as is,let…

“RARE FLOWER” by Angela Kosta

LostIn vain I searched for a flowerThat had your sweet scentI came back empty-handedAnd while I’ve seen you sleepSpellbound,I understood that nothing and no one—Not even a rare flower—Would compare to your beauty,To your irresistible freshness.Copyright © 2024 Angela KostaAll Rights Reserved Angela Kosta was born in Albania in 1973 and has lived in Italy…

“Me” by Monika Chugh

let the glorious sunlightfilter through your shadowlet the silver moonlightpurify your veneerlet the sparkling dewdropsdrizzle on your soulpouring all the graceall the tendernessall the goodnessto a bountiful hearta mosaic of paradoxesa montage of colorsa potpourri of medleysi wonderif i am an unsolved mysterybewitching and illusorya conundrum for manyfind me if you canunearth merestoring and reclaimingpiece…

“Patrol” by Walter Bargen

Air a steel door, fingers arthritic hinges.They walk through. Cinch khaki coatsCloser to their rusting bodies.Sling packs over their shoulders.The road oiled with iceSurrendering every direction but horizontal.Steps accumulate. Are they saying goodbyeAs they must or is it too early?Are they saying hello  But too soon for a full accounting?Assault rifles jumpy in their arms. At…

“At the End of Your Arm” by Ali Grimshaw

fingers of a handseparate at each tipeach a different length, different strength look farther downpast nails, past knucklesextend your gaze long like befriending discomfort and the unknowabledays of otherslying along your lifeline look farther nowyou will reach a placeof unity where each of us is connected to the palm the heart of allthat holds the fistthe offering handshake Copyright ©…

“To a Lion: A Contemporary Poem” by Robbie Cheadle

Large, graceful, King of the Beasts Oh Tau, how you inspire respect and fear (1) Do not view me with suspicion I am a champion of the natural world A supporter of your rights Mankind’s disgraceful disregard For this planet’s natural bounty Causes me much sorrow I understand your distrust Of me, and everything I…

“HYACINTHS” by RICHARD M. ANKERS

I watched the bee as though my window were a television. The insect busied itself all day buzzing in and out of the flowerpots on my windowsill. Sleep came. I woke to the bee sat upon a hyacinth, a vivid yellow and black against the flower’s distinct pink. Motionless, it regarded me. I’d never seen…

“Three Poems from Higher” by Robert Stewart

TASKS DONE AND UNDONE  I pass death with the dying and birth with the new-wash’d babe,and am not contain’d between my hat and boots.—Whitman  Better today if I had gone home to workon the wooden gate, which is coming apart,but the robin has hatched her broodon the downspout nearby and stares at meif I get close or…

“The White Blanket” by Shalini Kathuria Narang

A White blanket has enveloped everything,Hills, ground, trees, roofs of building(s),Pristine white is a beauty to behold,Nature’s wonders in the chill and cold.Seeing the snow fall,Is like speaking in a drawl,Leaves me in thrall,Of nature’s bounty above all.The breathtaking milieu appeals silently,Bestowing gifts abundantly,Revealing power of stopping,Seeing, sensing and slowing.New soft snow that gradually lands,Feels…

“Impending Gust” by Michelle Ayon Navajas

sunsets are to remind youof an impending night so bluea night that’s never been betterwith you, we created together; ’bout love, through daylightthat never lasted to the night,’bout love, through sunshinethat hated, cold summer rain. when will love be, truly evernot only through the better,nor just for the still wind, butalso for the gust of…

“Abstract 54” by Binod Dawadi

Copyright © 2024 Binod Dawadi All Rights Reserved Binod Dawadi, author of The Power of Words, holds a Master’s degree in English Literature and is based in Kathmandu, Nepal. With over 1000 anthology contributions, he aims to enlighten society through his writing. Binod is also deeply involved in digital photography and painting. His work has been…

“Sometimes a Hole is Just a Hole” by Ken Tomaro

There was a movie, I recall from the mid-1970s, a collection of short stories. One of which revolved around some people finding a mysterious hole in a field just outside of town. The townspeople stood around this hole, wondering where it came from. Wondering how deep it was, looking down, yelling and listening for an…

“Sicilian Asphalt Company” by Joe Polacco

Brooklyn, summer 1957 Dogs pant for cool shady shelterAs asphalt bubbles the hood’s streets.Yet some do not flee helter-skelter:Stygian Sicilians in black and cerise They’re a valuable immigrant classRefugees from a volcanic vendettaWho form their own Sicilian caste:Ejecta from the loins of Mamma Mt. Etna Stygian Sicilians, dark dialect unknowable,Spread tar o’er steaming street’s surfaceSmoothing out its bubbles…

“MISSING MOTHER” by Duane L Herrmann

1     “What do you mean, ‘She’s buried?’ She only died yesterday!” Kanitha stared at her older brother in disbelief.    “Just what I said in the email,” Helmut replied. “I’ve taken care of it. You don’t have to be concerned with it, you can plan the memorial service.”    “But, but…” she sputtered.  …

“I’VE BEEN” by Francisco Bravo Cabrera

The weapon of Damascus steel, 
created by your awesome will,fashioned in your head,has been perfumed and laid upon your bed. Willpower that shatters bones to the marrow,defies the winds and flies like an arrow.And although a few times in my lifeI’ve found myself against something like this,I’m still a ghost that your arrows will miss,though they…

“To be an Albatross” by Smitha Vishwanath

Had she slipped first and fallen unconsciousor had she fallen first and then lost consciousness?She couldn’t rememberJust like the many other things she no longer could.

He’d found her sprawled on the floor,half-dressed, her torso bare,They’d been married for sixty yearsor more- it didn’t matter anymore

It was the fourth timein three monthsthey’d picked her uphe and…

“even” by John Yamrus and Janne Karlsson

In a career spanning more than 50 years as a working writer, John Yamrus has published 39 books. He has also had more than 3,000 poems published in magazines and anthologies around the world. A number of his books and poems are taught in college and university courses. He is widely considered to be a…

“A Bottle of Scented Ink” by Kushal Poddar

A song fizzes and flows out of the bottle. Its redolencemakes me want you again,not you, the safe house, cocoonof your womb.I want another soporific nine-months,and when I shall emergeit will be April again,and our radio works;a station plays your voice.Your career in singing isn’tshortened by my birth this time.Copyright © 2024 Kushal PoddarAll Rights Reserved…