Britney Spears Is All We Have to Inspire the Current Landscape of Literature

Because the hubs of literature are often tragically left to the devices of those in Los Angeles and Brooklyn, we, the limited few among the reading public, are primarily saddled with what my ex would probably deem low art (because everything that isn’t Stendhal is low art, right?). It’s not necessarily always a bad thing–except, in retrospect, the work of Chuck Klosterman is pretty banal. … Continue reading Britney Spears Is All We Have to Inspire the Current Landscape of Literature

Betty & Veronica by Christine McDermott

The Archies are playing overhead and it feels all retro like you’re twenty again and Veronica drifts toward you like a sylph—away from her boyfriend who hovers, rattish and drooping dead over bored— You are a pulsing magnet, a metallic draw in the bar’s yellow light. This lonely girl’s languid like ebony, pouring herself into a chair near you, but just far enough away so … Continue reading Betty & Veronica by Christine McDermott

You Can and You Can’t by Gary Galsworth

You can bear a lot, but sometimes you can’t talk about it. My mother was like that. She kept things on an even keel, smiled, worked extra shifts on sore feet, whispered kisses. When she had to talk, she would at times give in and cry. As a youngster I found that difficult to grasp. Discomforting. It seemed an oddity of hers. Now, in the … Continue reading You Can and You Can’t by Gary Galsworth

Two Steps Forward by Steve Denehan

I sat on the park wall, blissfully aimless my legs dangled, not quite reaching the ground I kicked my heels against the bricks, enjoying the resistance I saw her front door open and she stepped out hesitant to close it behind her short brown hair, light raincoat, black shoes nondescript she stood a while, looking downward she waited, I waited the silence was interrupted by … Continue reading Two Steps Forward by Steve Denehan

Toothpaste by Aurora Bodenhamer

  Sometimes you get better at learning “how to get better” Face gets puffy from drinking about you too much Head doesn’t focus thinking about you too much Belly soft eating courses with you too much It gets muggy Theft happens and spring turns to summer “I really needed a friend” I told you I couldn’t even be that to you Waking up still drunk … Continue reading Toothpaste by Aurora Bodenhamer

Babel Beach by Steven C. Reese

Once, secure at the center, you would come to this verge to pretend—to play at surrender. You’d pick a wave, watch it gather its force; you’d place yourself in its juggernaut path just where it would heave highest, its top lip all froth curled over you; then you’d let it crush you under and drag you, helpless, flailing, toward shore. At your ears a muffled … Continue reading Babel Beach by Steven C. Reese