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Loneliness and the Seduction of Fairy Tales by Robin Michel
She is again lost in the Forest of Loneliness hoping to find her way out, knowing that whichever path she takeswill eventually wind back here where she started. She imagines herself a Gretel abandoned by her brother.Before that, abandoned by their father, both followinga trail of bread crumbs leading nowhere. Self-pity…
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The Red Dress by Lucy Whitehead
Fairy tales taught us the magic of a dress. How the perfect frock worn to a suitable social event results in a wedding to the man of our dreams. As girls, we knew with absolute certainty that the right gown could capture a heart. We learnt in books that’s how it happens. So we went hunting for…
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A Pig’s Pig by Jeffrey Zable
Once upon a time there were three pigs. One became choice bacon, the other choice ham,while the third went on a killing spree of butchers throughout the land. By the time they caught himhe was the most prolific serial killer in history.His fame rivaled Hansel, Aladdin, and even Little Red.He was the swine of…
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an insincere prince by Linda M. Crate
your bitter songwas pomegranate,but i refused to eatthe seeds;you were not hadesso i could not be yourpersephone—you were a devilguised as an angel,but if you were oncecelestialyou traded your virtuesfor your pridelike lucifer falling from heaven;you were a prince charmingbut insincere—into the woodsyou will find i am not cinderella,but the witch;and i…
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Kingdom of Shards by Madison McSweeney
Mercy goes to those who need it least. Once upon a time we built a fortressupon a deposit of sanda conception of crystal whispering ’boutthe kings we beheadedwhen they ceased to serve us,but nonetheless immortalizedin iron; the queenswe sent to retireat the top of the towerand scrubbed from the stones; the maiden-martyrs laid to…
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Nourishment by Ray Ball
In the woods and hamlets, a middle aged womanmight be known for her cunning— with a healthysense of self-preservation she might save her breastuntouched yet expectant. Dreams of milkflow from a silver pitcher. Wolves wouldcome to my door to drink. You should be gladyou need not fear their howls. I had no one to goto, so I…
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The Well by Ray Ball
A kit drank from a certain puddle near an old stone well. She startled— suddenly aware of her reflection. Surprised by the other pair of dark eyes staring back at her, she ran deep into the woods. As she ran faster and faster, her legs grew longer and longer. However,…
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Army of Silhouettes by Foy Timms
A castle of a boy stretches out into the darkness,sits on a hill, transfixed. Held aloft by the shimmering night-freckles of stars. He tumbles through stupefied moss carpets of unrest,watching his father thread a bearded pathway to peace,across the sky.And then his spiny grandfather encroaches, in close succession, shuffling along with eyes that…
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Gisele Bundchen by Valium Hippy
mechanic robot walking down the streetssad eyes, broken heartedeveryone sees the beauty in it but methey think to themselves“what a glamorous way to go navigate life!” i knowi’m a mannequin of sufferingand with cigarettes on my nicotine-stained fingersand bruises on my thighsit looks so romantic, as if i’m living in…
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Bill Evans on Kind of Blue by Jack. B. Bedell
Bill Evans on Kind of Blue The melody off Evans’ keys grows underneath the hornslike a python in a Florida marsh, the notes easy to catch,all prey without trees to climb. His hands feed in the horns’shadows. Cymbals and snare scurry away as he slidesthrough these tunes. Reeds take flight any time his lineflicks near their…





































