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Hot Water
by R. A. Allen Today is much hotter than yesterday.And when I slosh in on the sandbankthe sea foam swirling around my anklesreminds me of cappuccino froth.The bay’s water molecules are in a riot of thermal expansion, they jostle away from each other like irritable speed freaks,causing a lift in the sea level, causing me… Continue reading
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Lush Life
by Mervyn Seivwright Sometimes I need a sad song Coltrane serenading the parts of me whored out as each of us have Layers loosened enough in clothes to cut skin from an Uptown Chicago wind whipping corners I hear a hiss my breath these days withers Golden hour morning on Dutch coast coasting waves whistling… Continue reading
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Between Leaving and Returning by Shama Shams
Shama Shams is a writer, storyteller, and memoirist based in Seattle. Her work explores identity, immigration, womanhood, and the quiet resilience shaped by lived experience. She is the author of She Called Me Throwaway, which received the Top Choice award from NBR, and the forthcoming Dreamers, a collection centered on migration and belonging, is scheduled… Continue reading
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Palmetto Station
by David Colodney David Colodney is a poet living in Boynton Beach, Florida. He is the author of Gen X Redux, forthcoming in 2026 from Main Street Rag Publishing, and the chapbook Mimeograph (Finishing Line Press, 2020). A Best of the Net and four-time Pushcart nominee, his work has appeared in multiple journals. David currently… Continue reading
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Postcards
by M.C. Schmidt She found them on eBay and got them for a steal. Once they arrived, she wrapped them and kept them in her underthings drawer until Russ’s birthday. “What’s this, Norma?” he asked when she presented him with the gift. She raised her eyebrows to say, Open it and see… To her delight,… Continue reading
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Somewhere in Asia Minor by Gordon Massman
Gordon Massman’s work is represented by Ro Gallery in NY and has been featured in magazines across the world including Berlin, Barcelona, Toronto, Florence, NY, Lisbon, London, among others. Continue reading
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Licked Clean
by Mark Nuzzi Paul Whittaker had been collecting stamps for forty-seven years, each acquisition a small victory in his methodical pursuit of postal perfection. His Manhattan penthouse reflected a life of disciplined success. Mahogany bookshelves lined with legal texts, framed commendations from three mayors, and walls displaying pristine stamp collections in museum-quality frames. The apartment… Continue reading
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Tumbling, Like Sea Glass
by Christy Hartman My daughter pushes a salt-crusted curl off her face, crouching to examine the pebbles surrounding the tidepool. Show her where it is, Dad. Ruthie’s delighted squeal signals a discovery. “Mom, look!” My twelve-year-old expertly hops over the rocky shore, a piece of sea glass in her palm. “Oh cool, another brown one.”… Continue reading
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Amateur Hours
by Jeffrey Thompson How can I finish anything when my first instinct is always wrongand my second instinct is to trustmy first instinct? All the wordsstand up straight and blamelesson their shelves but soon I can’t place them anymore.They are the spines of books I don’t remember readingor someone else’s family photos.They are an empty… Continue reading
January House Literary Journal 