Poems by Margarita Serafimova

Apotheosis   The radiant shadows of the clouds, great, were standing on the invisible depths. Life, as always, was in the halls of the ending. The sun is burning the summer for a new beginning. Only cicadas in their symphonic madness quite know what that means. ____________________________   A dance they were, under falling leaves …

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Photography by Beverly M. Collins

  Beverly M. Collins's photos have appeared on the front and back cover of San Gabriel Valley Poetry Quarterly, her book, Mud in Magic, and on the internal pages of Spectrum and Lummox 8 publication.

Honorable Mention Piece from the Short Fiction Contest: Death Comes to Aishbagh by Divyanka Sharma

I was getting ready for work when mom told me of grandma’s death. Ambulances were rushing to Beth Israel Medical Center, urgently piercing the morning air with their siren call for space. Ubers and Lyfts and cabs were angrily honking in the 9am rush hour; East Village in New York was ablaze with indifferent and …

Third Place Short Fiction Contest: Animal Plots and Schemes by Linda Imbler

Jasper Beorn, my Sphynx cat, is an ancient soul.  He is also extremely intelligent. He lives with me in a small cottage house along with his brother, the rescue dog Maurice, who is, through no fault of his own, a few pickles short of a hamburger.  Maurice is not the reason J comes across as …

Second Place Short Fiction Contest: The Long Lost Maiden Of Light by Luisa Reyes

Once upon a time, there was a lovely young maiden who was fair of skin, dark of hair, startlingly intelligent, and warm of heart.  She dwelt in a castle, but rarely did she ever behold the finery of the grand ballrooms nor the gilded halls of the music rooms. For her status was that of …

First Place Short Fiction Contest: Lost and Found by Colleen M. Tice

Part I The archeology class has been on the dig site for two months. They had been studying abroad on the outskirts of the Island Aswan. The group’s campground is on the edge of the east banks of the Nile River. Professor Alexander Bakas received permission to dig on the site for three months. His …

Poems by Beverly M. Collins

Moss   Walls covered in a green growth that moves Slow and clings due to code. Land barnacles, much like those found in the ocean, alive and holding on. Present but fearful that to float or sail would spell a sure end. What is the human expression of fear/cling? Does it show itself only in …

Poems by Alice-Catherine Jennings

How like a winter hath my absence been …   Water witching my way to the river I unclasp the iron brackets of the clapboard gate— the smell of brown green. The estuary renews   its force while the lichen pimples the slabs of stone at the water’s edge. Crescano crescano crescano églantier, ephedra & …

Unlikely Swan

By Roseanne Trost Maisie walked into the ballet academy, ungracefully plopped herself down on the bench, removing her pink shoes, white orthotics and pink socks. Smelling her socks, she laughingly said, “Oooh, stinky.” She raised her shirt, black with “Ballet Academy” printed in white letters. She struggled to pull the top over her head, refusing …

The Hike

By Dianne Moritz   Walking through forests of lost years, you dropped small clues, like Hansel’s breadcrumbs, leading the way back. Ravenous, I promptly sweeten harsh words, raw truths, as one would a bitter fruit. We continued down those pot-holed trails, rock strewn paths, muddy lanes, hoping to reignite young, long ago love…. Dianne Moritz's …