I wandered across three times. From its arched center, red roofs belowsprinkled by a giant. Birds circled a gray sky, though there were no touriststossing bread into the Vltava. I pulled my coat against the March air. Beforean architect put pen to paper, set a ruler, he wanted to solder a city. Lining thebridge, blackened... Continue Reading →

sweet teller, you spin the bones of a good talebut it’s not for you to tell my lifewhen I’m dead. Dear lady, we’d argue about setting, we’d scrap like Caro and Gottliebover first pages. Sure, you’d go for strong plot,I’d trust you with the characters, but you’d leave out he years I was Job, arguing with the Big... Continue Reading →

after Farnez FatemiFriends, let’s fishfor hope, gather itinto our nets. Store the best catchbefore we steer to shore.Loop a line over found rock,set anchor, run on the dunes.Here, warm sand to buryour feet, waves to wash themclean. Sun to dryour wounds. Spread a blanketnext to strangers, feaston briny clams. Hold conchto our ears, invite Rumito... Continue Reading →

after Danusha LamerisThere was that morning we drove past stone gates into Strážnice, the green Skoda’s muffler ready to drop,  me leaning out the window to take pictures,  the Kodak hanging from my wrist on its strap.We wound through narrow streets past patchy gardens, common-wall houses,doors,each its own color, lace curtains waving past sills nested... Continue Reading →

By Kathleen GoldblattJune 7, 2023 We brought her chrysanthemums. On Sunday mornings I filled a tin bucket from the loose steel spigot,carried it down pebbled paths,watered flowers at the stone.Trying not to get grime on my white church gloves, I traced the sunken letters of her name—my name—in grey granite.We stood at the close-cropped mound, heads low, hands... Continue Reading →