PROSE
From Cajun Mutt Press: Little Hymn In One Part by Mike James.
“Once, he found a perfectly good leather dog leash re-used to wrangle passing clouds.” (James, Little Hymn In One Part)
♦
From Every Day Fiction: Marathon Girl by Tim Boiteau.
“Water station nine. Hydration, raisins, and knives, knives, knives. Knives for slashing, slicing and cutting, for gutting and jabbing, sticking and skewering — for stabbing in the back. The attendant eyes my blood-spattered arm approvingly.
I snatch up another blade. And another.” (Boiteau, Marathon Girl)
♦
From New Pop Lit: Hamburger Hill by John Higgins.
“He took the proffered hand− like a hiker’s foot− and gently shook it.” (Higgins, Hamburger Hill)
♦
From The Story Hive: Fox, Wolf & Dragon (part one) by R.C.D.
“… she was a giant magical spider, and possibly the creator of the whole world-” (R.C.D., Fox, Wolf & Dragon)
VERSE
From Jane Dougherty Writes: Groundwater by Jane Dougherty.
“… ash falls with small explosions, red / flowers before the grey and dusty end.” (Dougherty, Groundwater)
♦
From The Drabble: Gains by The Cheesesellers Wife.
“What do we gain and gather in all those places we go?” (TCW, Gains)
ESSAYS
From Clint Smith Fiction: Intoning Malone by Clint Smith.