The Gates of Nothingness

by Ben Hawkins

Poem


Answer to Our Youth

by Dennis O’Brien

Poem


My Trip to Catalina

by Jonathan Craig

Prose


Metamorphosis of the Mind

by Shon Pernice

Prose


Solitude by the Sea

by William Anderes

Poem


A Place Where Soldiers Go

by Paul Gonzales

Poem


Sergeant Mackey

By Dwight Jenkins, Marines

Writing Type: Poem

By Dwight D. Jenkins

--Rensselaer, NY

 

John IV made his final pass well beyond

the settling of the late autumnal sun.

It was the last cutting of the year, the great and final cut,

rich with summer’s sighing warm nutrition. 

 

The fourth was only 24, much too young

for one in such an old and worn condition. 

He sang a little sunset song for his scarred and seizing back,

jangled tight from hours in that fatal same position,

hours that fed the flame of coming night,

the aging soldier’s inquisition:

 

“I think I may, I think I might

be home before the dying light,

and if I do I’ll fly with you, my crying apparition.”

 

Even so, old John went round and round and round,

but the only sound this silent night,

his great-grandfather’s tractor,

as four circled one, two and three,

all buried deep beneath the maple tree

in the heart of Mackey’s pasture.

Notes: From a photo I took last year at this time, and recently turned into a painting. The file is too big for me to upload here, however. If there’s another way to get it to you just let me know.

Dwell in Hope

by Ben Hawkins

Poem


Combat Nursing

by Louise Eisenbrandt

Prose


This Road I Am On

by David Marchant

Poem


The Turret Guard

by Jack Tompkins

Sketch


A 1984 Exception

by Katherine Iwatiw

Prose


Retail Blues

by Lynn Norton

Poem