Archive for February 2026

LW He wanted to own her like a piano, play her when he wanted. Store her at Westy’s, dust her off and use her again.   Place her in a light-filled room with orchids and paintings, tune her, show her off when guests arrive. “What a beautiful piano.” “I love the silver frames propped upon…

Caitlin Walsh In December you show up tasteless, tacky, no shame, With lit up rooftops and headless carolers, a choir without song. Discotheque mangers shelter a blinking baby Jesus, but the star isn’t lit. Shephards on high, hollow plastic figures overlook faded gardens.  They proudly display Madonna on the half shell, coated with snow, halos…

M Why? Why did I love him? This man who called me names, gave me black eyes and terrified me?      Why did I believe him when he said he loved me? This man who spent nights with other women and then tortured me by describing each assignation?      Why didn’t I leave…

Effie Molina she danced on fire, she wept on air, she was alive until that day he came to violate her pride he said, “come on baby, let’s go for a little ride” little did she know she’d be gone for quite some time   now her heart pounds through her,  scared, she stops, turns,…

Wolfie Trix Nearly Dead Vision blurs, My voice fades away My strength fades, Colors around me gray.   Gazing at the sky, so blue, Telling it goodbye. I stop fighting; Am I about to die?   I remember that day: Your hands around my throat. This sensation, so odd I would like to note.  …

SW Nope, not me Yep, I’m smarter than that I chose this I predicted it would be bad Troubled – Volatile – Passionate – Exciting – Pushy – Insecure They needed me Until the next fun thing came along And I soon represented everything negative Disgusted by my very existence Anger raged when I didn’t…

Lisa Cortez      In early 2020, I read an interesting article in a science magazine about a mammal—thought to have been extinct for over 30 years—caught on a webcam in the deepest rainforests of South Vietnam. It had the pretty name of chevrotain, a scientific name of Tragulus versicolor, and in the grainy photo…

Amy Lee Mom, Wherever you are in the ethers of heaven or the space beyond Earth, Do you remember… One day, at the pink house—swatting at me with a plank of wood that had nails in it I was hiding underneath a bed—in that bedroom that was next to yours; this is hazy but I…

amber You once said, “It’s easier to be kind.” Those words, your lies, they play on loop in my mind. You have fooled some into thinking you’re a sweet and gentle old man, but they haven’t seen how things can quickly get out of hand. I’ve witnessed your short fuse, how fast you are to…

Marilyn Applebaum It really could be you Blood Death At his his his His hands   It was almost you I tell myself 3x 3x 3x Life not snatched Sacred from violent hands Not mine Thank God   He he he Police Please What do you care? Another she she she Killed by a he…