~Jennifer A. I want that roller-coaster-on-the-down-slope, caught-in-a-sudden-down-pour-on-a-summer-day, look-up-in-the-sky-just-in-time-to-catch-a-shooting-star, win-the-whole-jackpot, kind of love. I want that sun-coming-out-just-in-time-to-paint-brilliant-sunset, first-dripping-bite-into-ripest-nectarine, intoxicating-inhale-of-fragrant-spring-rose, cool-breath-of-night-air-washing-over-sleeping-face, kind of story. I want that magical-enchanted-firefly-evening, rhythms-bumpin’-so-loud-it-competes-with-my-heart-to-make-pulse, first-warm-ray-of-sun-after-winter’s-chill, wave-crashing-on-your-back-unaware, kind of kiss. I want that playful-wind-dancing-’round-my-face, thunder-rattling-my-bones, full-moon-illuminating-snowscape-sparkling-like-diamonds, long-drink-of-cool-water-on-a-scorching-day, kind of man. Yeah, I said it I want it all– somehow between a little girl’s [...]

~L. B. Nelson Warm Sun Breeze flowing through Work-worn Hands clapping Life-worn thumb harps Spring in rapid unison; Fiddle strings stroked Slowly up, Slowly down; Harmonicas inhaled exhaled; Double-time guitar strings Pulled then released swiftly in-between Children chatter, crying, laughter Flowing through people drumming Community humming Swaying their best give-take joy, Nutrition to all Souls; [...]

~L. B. Nelson one brown onion, raw cut of the dice; contact of the pile tossed produces sizzling juice, bubbling and spitting; a hot-oil crescendo short-lived, barely contained in the skillet. Carmelized morsels singed; a few burnt black, tastier still.

~Katie Gordon I see you sitting in front of me Tears pouring out Your heart on your sleeve Some days, you say, I just can’t make it through And I smile and nod And say, I believe in you How much faith I have in you So little in return for me Too often I [...]

~L. B. Nelson An immense, fully plump, deepest blue-red, stop-and-stare Peonie; it had finished it’s slow, relentless, blooming transition, making the grandest debut. These sweet flowers become most fragile; their torn tissue petals eventually falling this way, that way. Strength slowly ebbs. This one filled my out-stretched hand completely. People did stop and stare. While [...]

~Jeanette Iskat @ www.facebook.com/jeanette.iskat Love for all the mothers the grandmothers all your mothers all our mothers good bad perfect imperfect human. Love the step mothers the foster mothers the run away mothers the absent mothers the baby mama mothers the girls not-ready-to-be-mothers the girls too-ready-to-be-mothers the girls letting-another-woman-be-mother-mothers the would-be mothers the never-will-be-mothers the [...]

~Jody Gilbert Is it possible for there to be           just too many words? Do we reach a point of nausea,          or maybe suffocation? For all the years I longed for          and gave          long winded explanations          I have grown weary. I’m out of breath, coming up short.          I can’t hear yours [...]

~Makisha Lawrence Half- truths marinated in mango juices traipse slowly down the back of an arm The eager tongue of naiveté sweeps them onto the palate where taste buds are obliged to slowly absorb contradictions of: You just a little on the chubby side And Baby here, have some more macaroni ‘n’ cheese And A [...]

~Jody Gilbert I stand alone in my apartment, Yet, I also look down on me standing alone in my apartment. I am two things at once, the woman standing alone and the hovering, observant self The first is frozen, the second firey aware. The woman-me sets her things down, and maybe makes a cup of [...]

~Dolores V. Dona Cuca es una amargada A bitter soul If you ask me Mysterious how her pan dulce is so sweet so savory. When she is so cold so callous. Everyone complains about the poor, old, widow but there is always a line outside of Panaderia La Paz. Una dozena de pan and a [...]