Most read stories

horrible haiku

19931993 views1010 comments77 favs

Carthage, Rome subdued:/itself, Rome never long tamed./Memento mori.

Saturday Morning

19931993 views1111 comments99 favs

They kiss, opening their mouths into a smile, sharing a secret. Their kiss is so intimate. I blush, and look away embarrassed and a little aroused.

Postcard from a local

19921992 views99 comments66 favs

Wish you weren't here, Moon man in your cargo shorts.

Down Here I Drink Alone

19921992 views66 comments55 favs

The tapestry of time gets another stitch. The countdown clock rolls forward. The whole crazy picture gets a little bit clearer.

Remarkable Depths of Semantic Ambiguity

19921992 views77 comments77 favs

Thank you for submitting your epic poem I, I, I for consideration. While we are encouraged that you have relented from the ruthless self-endictment you affected so unconvincingly in your previous entry, Why Am I...

Marcel Unchained

19921992 views1717 comments1111 favs

Street mime in white face and white gloves, trapped in invisible box. Tip jar empty. Marcel's solo-dancing the tango now, teeth clenching ephemeral rose. Passersby pass him by.

Metaviews at Metazen

19921992 views1616 comments1313 favs

This is self-reflection or self-reflexive writing. Candor but not verse. That is what I write: not-verse. On occasion I write a poem though rarely an occasional poem. Instead of calling it non-fiction we could call it non-verse.

Bitterness: Poem

19911991 views22 comments11 fav

Standing hard at the windowCold clouds move, slowBlue horizon in the distance—It's just a slice of blue.All this beautyI miss it in the bitterness.I'm consumed by the missingThe emptinessThe unfairnessAlways some unfairness cropping upand capturing joy.Glancing high…

Arcana Magi - c.26: Science versus Magic

19911991 views00 comments00 favs

Brie stood before the dwarf that activated the de-paralyzer. She noticed her blueprints spread across the table beside the computer the dwarf stood in front of it.

A smile is worth 1000 teeth

19911991 views1313 comments44 favs

I was desperate for a social life but I couldn’t go out because I was too embarrassed to smile.

One Bag of Popcorn

19901990 views99 comments22 favs

“Dad’s a dick,” my sister said. I nodded. He threw $20 on the candy counter for one small bag of popcorn and told the girl to keep the change.

What Literary Rejection Letters Would Mean In The Real World

19901990 views88 comments55 favs

I ask for your patience with this form message, as it is part of a system that ensures every submissive ex lover is considered separately, since I am involved in a lot of anonymous sex.

Stage Play in Five Acts of Her: Matinee

19901990 views1616 comments1010 favs

I could have writ­ten her as is with long bushy hair, skinned knees, over­hauls, blue­berry stains on her fin­gers and teeth because she eats them too much. I love her bet­ter this way, blueberry-stained and wild....

Running Wild in the Neighborhood Today

19901990 views1616 comments1414 favs

The psychiatrist was a man who clearly meant to calm his patients, the students. You could tell by his sweater and his neatly combed, plumy hair and the wire-rim glasses he wore. But he was not good at his job. You could tell this by how bad he was at cal

This Girl in That Shirt

19891989 views4343 comments2222 favs

At first when she walked in, I thought she looked like a wet dog. Then after a minute, I’m trying to wrap my mind around how perfect she is.

Antenna

19891989 views1717 comments1010 favs

When I squint at her from across the table I can see the waveforms created by her carrier signal.

Liebe Grüße

19891989 views22 comments00 favs

Left, I see parkland and cyclists and sun. Right: picnic blankets, naked men and lunchtime assignations.

My Recycled Soul

19891989 views11 comment00 favs

Forever Implies To my recycled soul That it is achievable If only I stretch myself Towards it

What if god was one of us?

19891989 views11 comment11 fav

an old Black woman, a sequined black cap poised on the left of her crown of black infused gray hair.  A gray wool shawl that seemed to perfectly match her hair's color wrapped her all the way down to her hips, where a battered pair of blue jeans rested

Acceptance is to her a phenomenon

19891989 views1414 comments77 favs

You were given blame for action as experience by cause and effect now. If you take apart blame and even forgiveness is too rigid. She thinks of that purpose as to give men sexual destiny.

Poet Begging on Subway Car

19891989 views1313 comments88 favs

The subway train pulled up and I shuffled on board. I announced to the whole subway car: “I’m a poet.” And that was all I needed to do. It was like a miracle. Someone got up immediately and gave me her seat. People got in an orderly line and began

Hollow

19881988 views88 comments77 favs

His mouth is a flesh cave where a grizzly slumbers and winter is the blank page of my face.

Poets Who Thrum

19881988 views1515 comments1313 favs

Poets who thrum jirble and thwack Poets who thrum eat quorn with raw swamms Poets who thrum are eristic (not shambolic) Poets who thrum deliciate unto kench when they freck

This isn’t Silverlake anymore

19881988 views1010 comments99 favs

I hear the slightly scratched voice of Joan Baez coming from the record player singing about the junipers in the pale moonlight, applause erupting like hailstone on a corrugated iron roof. I am singing back through the bedroom wall, wishing the

Arcana Magi - c.24: Desperation

19881988 views00 comments00 favs

Oryn woke up in her desk. Sweat trickled from her forehead. Staring at her notepad, with her latest calculation, she forgot to go home. Her thoughts of Alysia calmed for now, but still lingered from her dreams.

What I Learned About Death While Eating Dark Chocolate

19881988 views77 comments66 favs

85% extra dark cocoa:/biting into bitter darkness

Punk

19871987 views2222 comments1616 favs

My mother used to say she'll be just like you and you‘ll deserve it. I was a Punk Rocker. A rebel. Emily worries about things like grades and sports. She's on the soccer team. I got stoned under the bleachers. Emily, is a good kid. …

Oh, Dada!

19871987 views11 comment00 favs

Daddy? Yes, hun. What do you think about life? Did you ask your mother? I'm asking you. (lowers newspaper) Well, (squinting eyes) life gives you so much pumpkin. ! and (like a whip) and..? (brows almost touching the hairline)…

Cavity

19871987 views1212 comments88 favs

his perfect ivory voice telling me i brush too hard. …as if he cared

Wishing Fountain

19871987 views2626 comments2020 favs

People go through life all the time with only one kidney, or with some of their female-parts removed.