Category Archives: GUEST POSTS

GUEST POST // Back at the start by Whitecatgrove

We return to the beginning, stripped
of our knowledge and rank, bound in white:
a shroud, a swaddling blanket, a bride’s veil,
a drawer stuffed full of rags and bandages.
Trussed up in white and left naked by fear.

The brutal say I don’t learn anything —
that’s why I no longer seek the brutal
as teachers, their blood my blood, their hiss
and spit so familial. Let gentleness
teach me these most difficult lessons

that I must begin again, without rank
or honor to learn a gentle way.
Or perhaps it is the easiest
of tasks: drop your knowledge, begin again
a blank page awaiting a love song —

by WHITECATGROVE
© All rights reserved 2024

GUEST POST // Running on the spot by Topolinopoet

And that’s it
Time now to fold up the earth
And put it away
Those marvellous things you’ve seen
And heard today
machines and exo-build
Infra-plus H
Have gone
If only we could breathe under water

Tremendous mysteries
Of thousands and tens of thousands
And multimillion tears
Folded
All the creatures and the people
Those Long dead
and others
Are of no matter
Believe me

And tomorrow
Forget about the world
folded in on itself
We are concerned only with ourselves
The dying

by TOPOLINOPOET
© All rights reserved 2023

GUEST POST // Sincere Pretense by Kevin L. McDaniel

Meeting where “Your insight
is imperative,”
but participation
is optional.

“Let’s catch up
soon,” shared by
people passing
in echoing hallways.

“Love, love, love what
you did there,”
praising mediocre
work.

“Your email must have
found its way
to the abyss of
my inbox,” a common tale.

“No offense but…”
often prefaces
unsolicited
perspectives.

“Take your time,
there’s absolutely
no hurry,”
with deadlines whispering.

“Just jesting,”
comes after,
softening
sharp words.

“I’ll ponder over it,”
a placeholder,
while decisions
drift.

“Wow, you’ve really
surpassed yourself
this time,”
for varying efforts.

“Couldn’t have achieved
it without your
unique contribution,”
when roles blur.

by KEVIN L. MCDANIEL
© All rights reserved 2024

GUEST POST // Leap Over by Aboli Mane

We leap over mountains
as the rabbit leaps over the moon
years wane in the blink of an eye
the marbles clink and scatter

as the rabbit leaps over the moon
childhood leapfrogs over our back
the marbles clink and scatter
the playground becomes a stranger

childhood leapfrogs over our back
vanishing with many steps
the playground becomes a stranger
the mango tree ripens; waiting

vanishing with many steps
innocence giggles over hide and seek
the mango tree ripens; waiting
for familiar hands to pluck the fruit

innocence giggles over hide and seek
years wane in the blink of an eye
for familiar hands to pluck the fruit
we leap over mountains.

by ABOLI MANE
© All rights reserved 2024

GUEST POST // Fragile Power by Cassy Single

Love blossoming
Not just for kith and kin
Stardust on the wind
Whispering searching for a home

Open my heart
Give me strength
Break the chains of conforming
Show me a brave new world

Not giving up
Not giving in
Growing and transforming
Into a wildflower

Open my heart
Give me strength
Break the chains of conforming
Show me a brave new world

Finding peace
In the love light
Strength in numbers
Expanding the bounds of what love means

Open my heart
Give me strength
Break the chains of conforming
Show me a brave new world

by CASSY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2023