Past Issues 

I am an oak tree. I have been in this yard and protecting this family for many, many generations. The youngest of the current generation under my care is a girl, Emmy, who has the biggest heart. She is not like her nasty mother, Judy, at all. Judy, despite her small stature, was an evil thing. Great harm was left in areas she'd been in, and I had to sacrifice more branches than I care to admit to prevent her from harming small animals. Still, I let her swing upon my branches

The day I was born in April 1977, floodwater covered the Appalachian Mountains of East Tennessee. I was the fourth of eight children born to my young mother, Kaye. Within two weeks, she handed me to her sister and brother-in-law, Ruth and Otis. It was one of the best decisions she ever made. My aunt and uncle adopted me, and from then on, I was loved beyond measure. They spoiled me, taught me lessons I would only understand years later, and filled my childhood with abundance

The man I met in the woods took the wrong parent.  It’s the kind of realization that comes in a lapping wave. I’ve just gotten my feet wet in the thought when the tide rips me under. Then, all at once, it soaks me to the bone.  A scream lodges in my throat as I take in my family’s gutted parlor. My bookbag slides to the floor with an ungraceful thud . It’s all so sudden, I feel like I’ve been kicked in the chest. Something wraps around my heart in a quick loop, feeling like

A Short Story by Shuvam Kabir The lawn had gone all to hell. Like the finger of God had carved a green swath through it. But it wasn’t...

Three Poems by Hailey Newbury I have included a composition of my poetry that illustrates the powerful force of love, that I believe many...

Three Poems by Francesca Vogt Vorfreude I hope you sit and listen to the rain on the russet tin roof. I hope you’ll step outside, And...

A Short Story by Brenna Lockwood The sun swayed in the sky above, rippling beyond the waves as its light diffused through each push and...

A short story by Theo Czepiel In a world where the government hides behind machines and lets people like my mom suffer, I should’ve...

Across the riverbed; there’s bloodshed; blood shed A Poem by Aurelie Msiza Very few people who’ve gone down the river have made it back....

Three poems by Theo Czepiel GLASS Staring in a mirror I see myself, Beautiful and not broken. The mirror shiny and perfect. An ornate...

By William Gross Meaningless Meaningless encounters - I can count you by the dozen. How prideful others are of their numbers - listen to...

Three Poems by Lauren Martin The Death of Nature The woods are thick, alive, thriving as the home to billions of microscopic residents....

Three Poems by Kayli Hinkley The Hanging Tree “I was just a boy when I watched them hang a man from that tree,” Papaw said from the...

by Jennifer Gambrel Snow fell silently on the coffin. Tommy watched, just as silently. The shiny brown was disappearing under white...

by Megan Lanphere Ghost Riders The hoofs beat along the path behind you. Breath is coming in short gasps while your lungs are screaming....

by Arsheen Surani In December of 2019, my family spontaneously decided to go to Texas as we wanted to spend the holidays with our...

By Landon Perkins Longing the smell of autumn in the air brings back blessed memories of those left behind the crunch of the leaves...