Recommended stories

Iowa

15101510 views77 comments66 favs

"It was John-Darren who once told me that he felt sorry for women."

Dinner, As Told On Twitter

15251525 views1212 comments55 favs

She sometimes ate her dinner standing up, in front of her living room window.

Theology of Forgiveness

14031403 views55 comments66 favs

In my life when I am pursued / by some wildly delicate thing

Me and the Dowagers by the Five and Dime

15201520 views1010 comments55 favs

It's been twenty years since you left. I should call it a day.Even the Obeah woman said as much. But I don't listen. Instead I sit with old and proper ethnic widows in black, waiting for your return. One of them translates my story for the…

A Monologue About Skyscrapers

21072107 views66 comments66 favs

Everyday the buildings seem to be getting taller and taller.

This Pretty Business

12271227 views55 comments66 favs

Oh it's another one of those strange thrill rides slowly building from a buzz saw whisperinto cool morning's consciousness, coming on and crawling through the moon's mattress like a silver stream and under the dented pillow where…

stung

14851485 views1212 comments66 favs

Lust

Building This Thing and That Wall

14491449 views66 comments66 favs

The world has long since been bootlegged by madmen. The new invisible con men are the same as the old visible con men, hiding and lying behind their walls of lingering death. There's a weapon wielding demon hell bent on an insane vengeance crawling around…

Ron Vara speaks out at last.

693693 views44 comments44 favs

He’s an empty sock

Writing Prompts

12381238 views66 comments55 favs

If you want to be a writer, just write stuff.

Puzzles

18021802 views66 comments66 favs

The man went into his backpack and pulled out his book of crossword puzzles. The deluxe edition with fifty percent more puzzles for free. It had been an impulse buy from the bookstore, cost him four…

Flutter in Night

14851485 views1212 comments66 favs

Have you heard this yet? The daughter flew home to care for the mother, whose pump is still tick ticking—though now with aid—which means she leaves the kitchen when the microwave clicks on.

Blood and Rain

12431243 views66 comments66 favs

There's no rain--there hasn't been rain in weeks--but the clouds are dark without the sun, and I can't see the stars.

The Magician

21482148 views1212 comments55 favs

He now knew the impossible to be possible.

Mama

36193619 views99 comments55 favs

So, I rough her up with sand paper, and hit her with chains, making dents. She examines her surfaces, tidily and efficiently, indicating the spots most in need of filling in with scratches and scrapes.

Saturday Matinee, Circa 1961

12441244 views77 comments55 favs

We are impressed and cheer them on/ in their struggle against the wild/ and unkempt ravages of nature

FLY AWAY

17431743 views1818 comments44 favs

Why is the sky grey he asked meI don't know, I saysudden flashes of light snowbloat the cloudssea gulls are squawkingexpect them to peck at my headI have nothing to feed them

No Word for Enchantment

14861486 views1111 comments66 favs

fanned lashes on rouged cheek a glamorous sea creature in violet perfume

I Liked My Giant Friends

15421542 views55 comments44 favs

When you say they were too big, too wild, they weren't too big to be giants. Giants are meant to dwarf things. They can't help it. They're not trying to make you feel helpless to give them a haircut. They just grow fast. But they…

love letter

19401940 views1818 comments44 favs

At night, I fold your name in origami doves and blow, hard, and you are disassembled come morning.

Our Travels on Fire

15321532 views66 comments55 favs

We were offered mannequins that had pubic hair that grew and swirled, and could visit like a pet, and sit in your lap

The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly

23242324 views1414 comments44 favs

One of the women is a brassy blond, and when she takes off her coat, I almost choke on a French fry.

Black Coffee

22482248 views55 comments44 favs

“I don’t see how anybody could do it.” “I could do it. I could do it because it ought to be done. When a thing needs doing, it’s best to go on and do it.”

1939, What I wanted

15181518 views99 comments66 favs

...when suddenly I was pushed from behind, smack into the deep end.

BOLO: Alfred Chester's Wig

38583858 views99 comments44 favs

It was there, and then it wasn’t, the victim of a magician or a swooping seabird.

The Blonde With a Sweet Pair

17271727 views77 comments55 favs

Long, elegant, with a touch of arch,

Stand Up

22932293 views1919 comments33 favs

"And you’ll forgive my sayin’, your Maggie’s in heat, and if ya want to keep her you’re gonna ‘ave to fight. To be sure after this they’ll leave ya alone.”

The Sky Writer

50895089 views88 comments55 favs

All eyes aim towards the heavens.

Radioactive Rain

16911691 views77 comments66 favs

It’s an almost mystical experience, walking in the warm, radioactive rain. It’s a rare moment of peace, a gathering of breath before the next storm, before the next wave of panic, before those frozen in shock come to themselves and rush through the stree

holding it down

16911691 views88 comments66 favs

You lazy fuckwit! You half-assed shithead!