September Baby
by Joella Wadel
Go, gilded flag of goldenrod—
Announce the autumn guest
Perform in haste my bright command
Make genial request Continue reading . . . “Joella Wadel: September Baby”
autumn leaf
by David Shafer
a whisper on a shallow breath
drifting to a gentle death
the leaf, it falls without a sound
to join his fellows on the ground Continue reading . . . “David Shafer: Autumn Leaf”
Enough
By Daniel Hess
Like Obi, I want the confrontation of words;
the solid smack, the concrete slapping and fact
inhabiting onslaught of meaning and sound.
Like Mr. Bultititude, my good friend Jer, and maybe you, Continue reading . . . “Daniel Hess: Enough”
We Wake to Sleep
by Kyle Lehman
We wake to sleep, we breathe to cry.
Our mothers dreamed and brought us forth to die;
For every cradle opens up a grave,
And every child is one we cannot save. Continue reading . . . “Kyle Lehman: We Wake to Sleep”
The Flood
by Christopher Good
I knew a man once
(not fourteen days ago)
who went down into Jordan, rain falling
down and down, the dirty water Continue reading . . . “Christopher Good: The Flood”
Abigail Heatwole: Days of Rain
Days of Rain
by Abigail Heatwole
Chill, bleak, despairing.
Weeks of it.
Rain taps unceasingly on the roof,
rain slides tirelessly over the window panes, Continue reading . . . “Abigail Heatwole: Days of Rain”
Neighbor
by Joella Wadel
Who are you—I want to know—
under the arched brow?
I could have passed by minutes earlier
and never experienced now. Continue reading . . . “Joella Wadel: Neighbor”
Shannon Blank: This Is Pressure, Not Erasure
This Is Pressure, Not Erasure
by Shannon Blank
This thing I have not in my mind
but body
and not a thing but place I have
here knotted uptight oddly. Continue reading . . . “Shannon Blank: This Is Pressure, Not Erasure”
Captivated
by Grace Hertzler
I’m waiting for the moon to top the trees.
I can’t abandon her just yet, so please
let me remain here with the whippoorwills.
The moonlight mesmerizes. Continue reading . . . “Grace Hertzler: Captivated”
Watchman
by Josiah Peachey
Watchman what of the night?
Watchman what of . . .
Watchman what?
Watchman . . . Continue reading . . . “Josiah Peachey: Watchman”
Pot-luck
by Daniel Hess
I’m leaning, once again determinist
Digesting, once again a pot-luck meal
Maybe luck has missed or, doubly,
Demigods have doomed my paper plated will Continue reading . . . “Daniel Hess: Pot-luck”
Sunfish
by Lily Eby
Last night I read scripture to the waters
feeling the sounds of open vowels with my mouth
and sunfish came in on hooks of children’s
delight, to lie by my side and die. Continue reading . . . “Lily Eby: Sunfish”
Caught
by Jeremy Troyer
The Kingdom of Heaven crept up on me one day
when I wasn’t looking.
It started like a weed,
frantically plucked out— Continue reading . . . “Jeremy Troyer: Caught”
Richard Stoltzfoos: Midnight: Gymaek’s Forest
Midnight: Gymaek’s Forest
by Richard Stoltzfoos
In blackness, amber owl takes to its flight,
Scanning, with listless eye, for obscure prey,
Victim searched for by vixen near away;
For vole and vixen, sure to meet upon that night Continue reading . . . “Richard Stoltzfoos: Midnight: Gymaek’s Forest”
To Danae
by Phoebe Anthus
The school yard, which one moment last,
buzzed with a reckless charm,
now silenced almost to breath,
swells holy Continue reading . . . “Phoebe Anthus: To Danae”
Grace Hertzler: First Impressions
First Impressions
by Grace Hertzler
This evening, I reflect with strange and gnawing sadness,
and long to kick those sticky things called first impressions,
far off the gravelly road that we traverse.
They cling to the tramping soles of my companion, Continue reading . . . “Grace Hertzler: First Impressions”
Yolanda Lichty: Blind to Light
Blind to Light
by Yolanda Lichty
We’ve played the game
So long we do not know its name—
Reverted eyes downcast
From all the souls still walking past Continue reading . . . “Yolanda Lichty: Blind to Light”
Shannon Blank: Shout! The Heralds
Shout! The Heralds
by Shannon Blank
Shout! The heralds
have offered up a pall
not at all, not at all.
Lighter! Lighter! Continue reading . . . “Shannon Blank: Shout! The Heralds”
Circles
by Rebecca Weber
Here on the circle of the earth
circumscribed by God
existences are bounding circles: Continue reading . . . “Rebecca Weber: Circles”
Lynn Michael Martin: I See Your Face
I See Your Face
Lynn Michael Martin
I see your face in every face I see,
for when you left me, you left me no more
than hopes unsure, that when these glimpses flee,
they will not leave my yearning senses poor Continue reading . . . “Lynn Michael Martin: I See Your Face”