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Crocodile Tears
by Rory Baskin Artist: Stuart Kinlough is pain worth perceived beauty?worth hiding laughter from myself,love from a family who’d all bleed differently,life and beauty and joy from the world,because that’s where art should come frombecause tears should flow under the cover of nightand stain the pages of perfect poetrybecause a heart’s nothing until it’s a…
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Double Agent Angel
by Rory Baskin it’s one of those paintingsthat looks like it’s something from far away(don’t you dare take a step closer,don’t risk revealing the perfect mess)it’s a single rose petalthat begins to wilt the moment it’s plucked(look closely and remember that we’re all dyingfrom the instant we’re torn into life)it’s the red lipstick print on…
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About Ravens
by George Freek Artist: Chris Aydlett As dead leaves dropinto the rushing riverlike falling acrobats,a raven looks accusingly at me.I wonder what he sees.Like nature itself,his meaning is a mystery.He flies toward the dying light,disappearing into the night.What we make of birdsis what we want to see.It’s spartly truth,but it’s mostly make believe. George Freek…
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Sour Grapes and Rotten Apples
by George Freek I watch a girl with golden hairswing down the street,but we’ll never meet.Still, the flesh stirs,as a blossom stirs,but the unfolding is too long.As clouds fade away,So do my urges.It’s nature’s way.Yet I feel winter arrives too soon.I smell the applesfalling from my tree.The scent is as sweetas freshly laundered cotton,but the…
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The Old Man
by Mel Kenne The old man now was I,and I was he. I eyed him as Thoreau said I might:a fact that could be seen from both sides — something divided sharply by perception’s cleaver. Ashe looked quizzically back at me from where we eachsat alone, wondering why we were questioning our-selves so intently, suddenly…
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You’re Going to Be A Father
by Rosalie Hendon Artist: Varina Patel She’s gorgeous. Olive skin, black hair, bright eyes.You and I are both gringos attracted to mateswho were born speaking our chosen language. I realized, watching the two of you talk about reality tv,that’s she’s perfect for you.Cuts to the point.Politely, firmly disagrees when you launch into a tangent,get on…
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Visitation Dream: White Kitten
by Rosalie Hendon Artist: Amy Chen You were there, in my childhood bedroomholding the tiniest white kittenin your beloved hands When I fell asleep, you coaxed herinto my palms–I woke and shewas there, you were not I knew it was a goodbyeYou left me a book, too,a paperback of all your stories and pictures I…
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Yakan no Shigoto(Night Work)
by Bobbie Loeschner Artist: Yamamoto-ya Heikichi Deafening silenceFlickering of candle lightThe bandits outside The past reaches himHowling screams on midnight’s breezeThe swordsman stands by Clamor at the gateThe shadows, gliding, burst throughBlades drawn like fanged wolves The lone warriorSprings his arm from its sheath, then—Steel cacophony Crashing death—gift toAn Ukiyo-e YokaiAll is harmony Morning light…
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New Best Friend
by Fabrice Poussin What a man will do for a cigaretteholding a large bag in one handa broad smile in the other. It is sometimes hard to make outall the words from a distancethrough the earbuds of one’s private world. Intent on the needs of the daybusy at the state-ordained taskI guess all he wanted…
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People of The Rock
by Fabrice Poussin Artist: Ivan Acuna More than fifty years, they saythey have been sharing the same storyof love and dislike with this paradiseas more come in to bask in their private sun. Somewhere well north of four scoresthey persist with the same teenage venturesresting on a rock the Inquisition would have delighted inwhen their…