A Breath of Fresh Air – Helen Finney

A Breath of Fresh Air by Helen Finney A breath that lasts a hundred yearsin, outtakes little from the airin, outunless it makes new lungsin, outwhich then make twoin, outand them two eachin, outthen look up what exponential meansin, outas the air runs outin, out. About the Poem “The world population has almost tripled in […]
Clouds in the Attic – Laura Theis

Clouds in the Attic by Laura Theis This poem is best viewed on a computer rather than a mobile device. The clouds have moved in with me overnightlike a family of raccoons but without any of the scrabbling.They are mostly very quiet, only making their soft presenceknown through the occasional indoor drip of rain or unexpected […]
No – Rachel Turney

No By Rachel Turney When I was thirty-four I went to my annual gynecologist appointment. At the end he asked me ifI had thought about freezing my eggs.“No.”“Do you want to have children?”“No.”“Because you could freeze your eggs. I can give you some information.”“No!” About the Poem “It was this doctor’s appointment that showed me […]
a lesson in rosewood – Laura Theis

a lesson in rosewood by Laura Theis today we are sadmy non-existent daughtersays and squeezes my dry handwith her sticky one I nod and smile butshe shakes her perfectnon-existent head of curls andtells me to smile more sadly when I obligewith a quivering lipa quiet stream of tearsshe still isn’t satisfied no no like thislook […]
If Given the Chance – Taylor Kovach

If Given the Chance By Taylor Kovach $230 Deposit Offspring scaling mountainous arm stringsOnto my protectively broad shouldersSledding down elder spine tree terrainJumping, exhilarated pleas of “again, again” Clasps onto soft miniature handsHelicoptered cadets twirling aboutExploring Pluto’s windbitten orbitGiggles of pure guttural joy, absolutely precious To leave a legacy of “look what I did Daddy!” […]
The Prospect – Lynn Valentine

The Prospect By Lynn Valentine And I might have wrapped himin linen, showed him off to his cousins;made him fat and languid with my milk. I’d carry him out to the fields, restan hour among the clover, the wild violets,the tormentil. I’d watch him laughalong with fall of water from the hills. But the loom […]
Conversations – Rachel Turney

Conversations By Rachel Turney I don’t have to have children to be a woman.You know that right?I had to ask again.You know that right? About the Poem “This is a recounting of a conversation I had a few years ago. It’s disappointing to me how intertwined ideas of womanhood and motherhood are in society, especially […]
The Garden of Remembrance – Janina Aza Karpinska

The Garden of Remembrance By Janina Aza Karpinska She steadies the weight of corrugated iron above the compost heap with upraised arm. Her solid-limbed body – shapeless in wedge-heeled shoes and grey shift dress. Puts out tulips like the dying embers of a wood-fire in suburbia; adding to flower-cemetery’s final remains the yellow iris, freesias […]
Children are the best things to happen to you – Maggie Mackay

Children are the best things to happen to you by Maggie Mackay my father’s words to me, aged 10 What he said startled me,a compliment I didn’t get at the time. Sorry to disappoint you, Daddy;you knew I’ve a wilful mind,you were proud of my muckle moo. I’m no witch, to be persecuted,though there is […]
Relics – Lynn Valentine

Relics by Lynn Valentine Up into the attic that was never thereto find a cradle of mislaid bones,a doll or two – dusty with unplaying. A newspaper with an ancient date,baby of the week photo keeking out, and among the eaves a shawlcrocheted with cobwebs. Beyondthe skylight – a geometry of wings. About the Poem […]