by JP Davies

Is not catalogued or structured,
lanced through like exotic birds and butterflies.
All here can be touched: snuff boxes, skeleton keys,
glazed porcelain dolls, hands of playing cards
decrepit with dealing. Preceding Death,
nightmare figures of a burgeoning Tarot.

Who carved such centaurs dancing
behind sheer curtains of miniature playhouses?
Stringed-up minstrels with fire for hair
and dirty threads, drowsy in slow limelight.
Something in the eye crawls.
The stage skies are dawn or dusk.

by Miles T. Ranter

by Craig J Crawford

Paths Cut in the Grass

a perforated stone
lies in a garden
away
unearthed
skeletons suggest human sacrifice
tools and animal bones
direct as a symbol

248th Weekly Poetry Contest

by Bruce Boston

Seduced by pheromones
more potent to the senses
then my species’ own,
I ride her blue cries
to crimson excitations,
and for a trembling instant
the light years between
our limbs collapse.

Charged by the tendrils
of her spiked electric fur
to telepathic sight,
I feel pain raining down,
see blue fields blown
in the searing light,
know the wiles of victims
for the pale glabrous beasts
who handle them by night.

by Sara Backer

Everything I respect begins
with porcupine and skunk.
I must defend myself.

Everything I value begins
with a brook:
buoyancy and rhythm.

Every piece of sky I breathe
has been touched by wings
of wasps and phoebes.

I’m learning how to breathe.
I hold my breath like sunshine
locked in ice.

Everything I think begins
with granite and mica.
I peel silver layers.

Published in my chapbook Bicycle Lotus

by angela_yuriko_smith

Darkness cheers
and hides perfection.
No curve, smooth and smiling
hides under this basket.
Hushing answers.
Conjuring peace.

The raven night
veils your lids
healing, gentle and cool
washing dreams in watercolor
shades of shadow and
hues of galaxy.

The hot morning berates
with beams to pin us
like stiff specimens—
butterflies on cardboard—
soft feathers smearing
midnight blue
against rough brown.

by Abdul Malik Mandani

Whenever a cool breeze blew
My love, I thought of you anew
and the pounding of my heart grew,
It would lessen the pain if I but knew
why like a fledgling away you flew,
Yet unbeknownst to my hurting heart
My love, I thought of you anew,
Come back to me lest I ruefully depart.

by DavidKM

All But One Asleep

I awake,

my surroundings an unfamiliar tube,

some woman on the video,

her language slowly comes clear,

her world, mine,

She says it's gone.

Outside, yellow-brown clouds

remind me of Beijing that last summer

everyone masked

it's my turn, it seems

to stare at lights and graphics

no intervention needed

we're just waiting till the atmosphere

recovers: solitaire, games against

the computer; it simulates an AI

by KhuzaimaAli

"Here, I have an apple for you."
(See, I told you a lie)

You take the apple.
(A rope, between you and me)

To look closely you bring it up to your eyes.
(Rope fastens around the neck. Yours and mine)

After carefully examining it you bring a knife and start cutting.
(Making a noose, I slowly tighten it)

You take a piece and I, half.
(I can see you struggling as I close my hands around your neck)

You take a bite and smile.
(You eyes reddening, nostrils flaring, hands fighting mine)

by Aislinn J Harris