It’s hard to trust others when I’ve told people about my past Only for them to turn around and use it against me They know what broke me And in turn used it to continue to break me They’ve seen the tears others caused me…

For my Emily Grace   In the heat of summer, a strange tiding brewed. Past the cottage, near the treeline where I camped, I heard a ghastly noise. The noise reminded me of a cross between a cat fight that was going wrong and a…

A reliance heavily on self without the unwanted influence of others. Careful with whom is granted access to her life. Find her in the bookstore corner quietly skimming the markdowns. See her in the grocery store shopping while listening to 90’s music through her air…

The comfort of fireflies Housed in a brown-glass bottle The fruits of labours spent over A long day of laughter Is soon forgotten, Like the African mask keepsake From a year’s past holiday, In the face of a steaming Bowl of porridge Newly removed from…

By Sandy Lender   lift lost babe from sun body-long paddles flick air seek freedom in flight

The hate in your eyes The venom from your lips The darkling jungle of your heart Emits unending flames of devastation Your fist clenched to inflict harm Your sturdy legs walks the pathway of destruction Your creed of class structure Your indoctrination of racial bigotry…

He walks toward her from out of the fire head wreathed in flames crackling, layered like laurels. Her eyes are cautious limegreen tracking his every step hair coiled, tangled like ivy rooted to the earth. He reaches out, sparks floating free from his open hand…

Looking out of my window, Spotted a firefly, Time for an adventure, Grabbed my mask, Covid hasn’t gone yet, Off to chase, There it goes, Let me click a picture, Zoom in closer, Where did it go? Into the strange cottage again? Still illuminating inside……

Got a message in a bottle Written in gas, helplessness and a lit rag Labled with an inverted cross And an upside down flag Thrown by a Zoomer At the Amerikkkan Dream For propping up a vision That is nothing that it claims to be…

Watched, the girl in the room becomes specimen of strange forthcoming Doom.   She has firefly anguish, of having her light dimmed. Propped into place, there is nothing to be fit or trimmed.   In the heat of unwanted conversation, her focus zooms into abyss,…