He lied because his
colleagues lied, he
cheated because they
cheated, and he stole
because he could see
everyone around him
successfully getting
​away with theft.


Author Bio:
Individual entries on Richard Kostelanetz’s work appear in various editions of Readers Guide to Twentieth-Century Writers, Merriam-Webster Encyclopedia of Literature, Contemporary Poets, Contemporary Novelists, Postmodern Fiction, Webster's Dictionary of American Writers, Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians, Directory of American Scholars, Who's Who in America, NNDB.com, Wikipedia.com, and Britannica.com, among other distinguished directories.

One more time let me smell the fragrance of your hair
Standing behind you for the group picture
Hands on your shoulders positioning my face just where
Everyone will know we are together 
Then when breaks up the posing 
I kiss the back of your neck supposing
You wouldn't mind me you my affection showing

​
Author Bio:
William Joe Pyles graduated from Southwest Missouri State now Missouri State University and Touro International University. He is a retired LTC Master Army Aviator from a 36-year career in the Missouri Army National Guard which included service in the Desert Shield Desert Storm Conflict. He is an experienced after dinner speaker and energetic writer, having composed over 700 original poems. Living in rural Missouri, his hobby is sailing and, of course, writing. You may find his poems published for you on his Facebook Page under the name William Pyles.

Teal teardrop earrings.
An indigo silk scarf.
This morning, the years
Of mourning
Fall away, drift
Upon the breeze
Like the charred remains
Of a raging forest fire,
Snuffed out with time.
The landscape ravaged,
My body scarred
Yet fertile,
Awaiting fledgling shoots
Of new growth.
 

Author Bio:
A graduate of Northwestern University with a degree in literature, Kelly Sauvage Angel is the author of Om Namah… (published under Kalyanii), a collection of poetry, two stage plays, dozens of short stories and hundreds of articles. After surrendering to the healing touch of her massage therapist and downing a couple anti-inflammatories after dance class, she most enjoys wiling away her free time manifesting her culinary inspirations and reveling amid the magnificence of nature. 

In the secret of your quiet place,
In the shadows dark and deep,
Within the tender moments,
Just before you sleep.
 
When the quietness surrounds you,
On a sea of night,
That’s when my love will find you,
In the fading light.

When the artist of your dreamscape,
Prepares your canvas for the night,
Deep within your slumber,
I will come to you tonight.
 
With warm embrace and tender kisses,
That none but you can feel,
I will weave my passion into,
Something that is real.


Author Bio:
Timothy Wilkie is a writer, artist and musician living in upstate NY. He has two grown sons Justin and Blake. He spends his time in the outdoors as well as practicing his arts.

Thrown into blue-green globe
Tick, clock, tock, bold, 
Turning Earth, churning.
.
Breathe down rough winds and showers,
Tick, tick, timer, round and round,
Stirring rhizomes, seed pods and bulbs.

And now comes Iris-sewn elegance, 
Displayed, hands gathering 
The bruised blossoms 

Withering perfume of 
decay. 


Author Bio:
Wendy Gist's poetry, fiction and essays have been featured or are forthcoming in Amsterdam Quarterly, Empty Mirror Arts and Literary Magazine, Foliate Oak, Fourth River, Gravel, Grey Sparrow Journal, New Plains Review, Rio Grande Review, Soundings Review, Silver City Quarterly, St. Austin Review and many other fine journals. Gist is a Pushcart Prize nominee and was a semifinalist for the Best Small Fictions, 2017. A native Arizonan, she now lives in New Mexico where she serves as Co-founding editor of Red Savina Review. She's the author of the chapbook Moods of the Dream Fog now available from Finishing Line Press @ finishinglinepress.com and amazon.com.

“Thank you for calling Doctor Quacktor.
We are located somewhere in California. 
Our office hours are 1 PM until 1:30 PM.
Please listen to these options:
If you have a broken leg, press 1.
If it is the femur, press 2.
If it is the fibula, press 3.
If the bone is sticking through, press 4.
If the bone looks kind of funky, press 5.
If the bone looks real funky, press 6.
If your leg is turning green, press 7.
If it is pointed in a different direction, press 8.
If you have any pain, press 9.
If you think you have gangrene, press 10.
If the blood is kind of coming out, press 11.
If the blood is squirting out, press 12.
If you start seeing strange things, press 13.
If everything is turning black, press 14.
If you can’t feel anything any more, press 15.
If rigor mortis is about to set in, press 16.
If you see a white light, press 17.
If you are flying up to heaven, press 18.
If you have a medical emergency, press 19.
If you want to speak to the doctor,
Good luck.”


Author Bio:
Robert L. Martin's writings have appeared in "Mature Years," "Alive Now," "Long Story Short," "Poets' Espresso," among others. He is also a pianist and the organist at First UMC of Wind Gap, PA. His main writing influences are Kahlil Gibran and Pablo Neruda. He loves watching football.

with paper blinds pinched shut;
and sunlight crawled in;
spilled over the unpolished dark wooden boards
resembled black fingers clawing and scratching the floor
and all the dust like old snow settled between their nails
she sat there in the sheets
rooted to the headboard, hair of weeds
and wooden gaze
cold and alone,
in a house with two;
barren branches, skin and bone


Author Bio:
Jalen Williams is a writer. Follow him on Facebook. On Instagram and Twitter follow @jalenisms

I see you lurking through the trees ~
evading, hiding from all
wreaking havoc in my mind
pushing ‘til I fall.

Through shackles, chains, and locks ~
my mind is held in place
forced to look upon my crime
but never do I get to face.

I change and yet you don’t relent ~
holding me to my sentence
causing a relapse I get stuck
behind my iron fence.

Will I ever fly and make amends ~
for my awful crime?
Set the hour to work and play,
or live out my time?

Get back from me and vanish now~
into your slimy wall
so I can see the old oak tree
and hear the raven’s caw.


Author Bio:
Lee Waggoner is an educator, musician, poet, and family man. He enjoys life to the fullest and keeps his wits through writing. An introverted-adventurer, he has traveled all over the United States and Europe in pursuit of life’s true meaning. Having experienced, overcome, and subdued every facet of life and love, Lee is the ultimate amans vitae periculosa (adventurous lover of life). For 26 years Lee has poured himself into education. First, he taught personal bass and piano students how to enjoy the love of music and for the past 10 years he has taught public school students how to think, learn, and use their imaginations. He is currently residing in Glendale, CO. where he relishes family time, enjoys the great outdoors of Colorado, writes poetry and gigs regularly with different bands and musicians.

At long last the dust has settled
upon the sinking heaps of mud.
But, despite how long I've peddled,
Well, I never quite gave up.
Now all is clear, and I am here,
And I'm finally looking 'round,
what I've stumbled into appears,
That which I wish I'd never found.


Author Bio:
Sean believes that there aren't many corners of the world without judgement or expectation, but the corner of anonymity they call "the Internet." 

The gentle warm touch of the morning sun
My face and shoulders come alive 
Join in the thick love exhaled from the universe;
The wind flows
Slow and smooth
Bringing with it scents of nature’s beings
Flowers; 
Jasmine
Trees
Eucalyptus;
Bushes;
Gardenia;
All gently mixed
But not;
My mind dreams and wonders;
What if;
The universe emits such lovely scents
According to the needs of its inhabitants that surround them;
What if;
My brothers were hypnotized by different smells for their unique souls;
Connected; 
Connecting;
Speaking Silently;
Giving Loudly;
What if


Author Bio:
Writer, blogger, aspiring author and poet working to create compassion and shed light on how we are more alike than different, connected than than separate and loved than not.