Tag: Winners

Boat Nibble Tied against tidethe rowboat bobs;a bobber in the riverripples a nibbleup and downtugs sinker/anchoracross a silt bedlike drag marksleading the wayto crime scene tapeflapping like sails. Diane Webster’s work has appeared in Old Red Kimono, North Dakota Quarterly, New English Review, Studio One and other literary magazines. She had micro-chaps published by Origami…

Wheel The day after the wind stormand the heavy rains had tapered off,a large tree let go, groaning as it fellacross St. Matthews Avenue,crushing beneath its thick trunka boy who’d been riding his bikeup and down the sidewalk —a rooster tail of mud and rainwateron the back of his cotton shirt. Someone called 911, a…

Rot I hoard spoiled food in my fridge.It’s my longest-lasting relationship. I turn on the light and we stare at each otherlike we’re trying to finish an argument. Not speaking, but still sharing the same bed. Both wishing things were different. Both rotting from the inside out. Samantha Ratcliffe is a poet and songwriter from…

An Ode to Dog and Bone In the beginning God created dog and bone; Condemned by creation and created for consumption, The jeering jaws of inequality will always watch the woman. With loose teeth I learned to loathe Eve, penitent For my covered shoulders and saintly silence. The bone made for and from the dog…

Chrestomathic There’s a blessing that comes with moving a body quickly from the bed to the grave.The skin doesn’t have time to get cold and grow hard, it’s still warmand soft, and it’s easy to imagine that it’s all some kind of gameinvolving the husband pretending to be dead while the wifedrags the husband down…

Mawmaw’s House Arkansas Creek concealed my sanctuary,between its dark hills of cedar pines drawing the holler walls.It had four rooms and no indoor plumbing.It had you,my confidant in Five and Dime pajamas.My refuge was rocking on the rusted screened porch,snapping half runners and peeling bruised apples.You proudly professed they made the sweetest pies.The molasses of…