His Funeral

Poetry by Ralph La Rosa Leaning close, Frank whispers urgently,“You shoulda wore a black suit, this’s navy,”not the first to remind Vic as old guys squeezehis hand until it hurts. Black suits and ties. Frank hangs on tight, face angry, sad and sorry:“Your dad’s partner, Tony, he’s insulting him.”Vic had quit the seminary, assured hisContinue reading “His Funeral”

The Ride

Crime Poetry By Hillary Lyon conversation traveled alongthe Möbius strip of her mindshe took the sharp curves     fastwith no seat belts or air bags you unlocked the glove-box of her heartfound it stuffed with crayon scrawled mapscandy wrappers      six shinybullets and a warm pistol red and blue lights     flashedin the mirror of her mouthtoss careContinue reading “The Ride”

Peace Profit

by Jimmy Boom Semtex Peace Profit Made in a country near you Things to do a job What type of job? To heal to kill to create to destroy All in the ACME factory Ready steady go get to work! Fulfill your shift Do your quota Finish the order yesterday There’s much work to beContinue reading “Peace Profit”

Tell Me a Story

By Hillary Lyon Tell Me a Story, She Said, Make it a mystery. So I concocted a tale,a cocktail concerninga private plane, a stowaway,a debris field. A secret affair, a radical manifesto,a tiny rhythmic beeping.Red numbers tumbling downlike crisp autumn leaves. A smug politico, a movie mogul,a sex slave.I was not a slave, she corrected.IContinue reading “Tell Me a Story”