American Innocence, Our Children Now and Then By Donal Mahoney As we know, sometimes we can see the big picture by peeking through a keyhole. And in America today perhaps we can see better the state of innocence among young children by looking at a recent incident in middle America. A retired grammar school teacher, Thomas Thacker, is surprised […]
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A click and its likeness can’t change, curled the way rain yellows though you hold on almost make out the grin that could be yours –it’s been years, minutes and even with your arms apart you have forgotten the smell the fleece-lined gloves filled with dry leaves half paper, half iron half pinned to this snapshot still bleeding […]
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Drifting Like a violent storm that rages outside and smashes my walls with its power is how I feel when my world grows dark, and I release my fury to salvage the remains.
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Heave of waves rushing toward shore, vast pulse of the sea, thickening, as mermaids hiss and murmur and seaweeds strangle themselves. Body of water, stupendous oceanic heft suspending me above my desire to drown here among broken shells. Massiveness lifting me beyond my day’s moments, those shattered bits of time devastated by Life. Author Bio: Austin Alexis […]
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Small Packages – By Gil Hoy I’d like to drink up the Universe from a can of Diet Coke, bought from my ancestors’ most virtuous moments. With no deposit required–can’t be returned without your consent, a secret label on the side that reads: “only the purest, natural ingredients.” Has a pull tab that opens like a forever Christmas morning […]
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Carnival That peacock opulence, Swarming on strutting grime; That massed ecstasy, squeezing itself, Short-breathed, near suffocation; That sound-abandonment, seeming to plunge To deafness’s peace; Yet keeping those maimed faculties alive, Ever denying their last fulfilment. Maybe it’s only I and it, I, starting in the middle And it, commensurate with my idea Of my own size? Maybe I […]
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In Crowd I discover in myself this startling desire to fit in. As if I am some teenager in an afterschool special or training video. Listen, honey, don’t worry about those other kids. I am now looking for a new teacher than those crowding voices around me. An inner truth to tether myself to the world, eschewing the script, enveloped […]
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Dead, a Viking walked over the Rainbow Bridge. If he (and it always seemed to be a he) died in battle, then he had a 50% chance of going to Valhalla, ruled by Odin, for drinks. The other half went to Freya’s Field. I’d have liked the field. After an hour of snow followed by summerish sunshine, my partner […]
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Young Priest, Old Priest Everyone in the neighborhood was surprised when Bill McIntyre entered the seminary to study for the priesthood. He had been dating girls since early in high school and had been engaged since graduating from college to a lovely young lady. He often spoke about wanting to have a big family since he himself had been […]
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Tomorrow Things I have this list Started long ago Though I cannot recall when The paper’s crumpled Folded and stained With edges torn and thin From time to time I pull it out Allow my eyes to scan down through Before I click my pen And quickly Scribble a new word or two No lines mar These […]
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