Photos by Michael C. Roberts

Michael C. Roberts

 

Doug Sylver

the 4th of July

gazing up at

ripening figs

—Doug Sylver

Jonathan English

midsummer

the shade of

rowan tree flowers

—Jonathan English

John Pappas

bone scan

the mercy of

next year

—John Pappas

Vaishnavi Ramaswamy

sunbeams

upon her face

i see veins

—Vaishnavi Ramaswamy

Françoise Maurice

gone children

the remains

of grilled prawns

—Françoise Maurice

Albert Schlaht

lingering memories

in the attic

old flies

—Albert Schlaht

Haiga, by Lavana Kray

—Text & photo by Lavana Kray.

Oscar Luparia

rising tide

the waves play

with a sand castle

—Oscar Luparia

Joshua Gage

 drum bridge

the plop 

of a penny

—Joshua Gage 

crisp pickles

the purr of the cat

around my ankle

—Joshua Gage 

Katie Montagna

summer scherzo

wild orchids

in the meadow grass

—Katie Montagna

fluttering past

on an upgust of wind

a rose petal

—Katie Montagna

night wind wafting jasmine

through the window

this full moon

—Katie Montagna

Monica Kakkar

grab-and-go . . .

abubble in the meadow

mating bobolink

—Monica Kakkar

Joanna Ashwell

secrets held—

leaning into

the willow

—Joanna Ashwell

 

colouring

the bare trees

purple dusk

—Joanna Ashwell

Zahra Mughis

who remembers

after they wither . . .

azaleas

—Zahra Mughis

Jahnavi Gogoi

peace lilies 

writing her son’s 

obituary 

—Jahnavi Gogoi 

spelling bee—

my name mere syllables 

in a new country 

—Jahnavi Gogoi 

Alvin B. Cruz

lavender fields

the less traveled road

to peace

—Alvin B. Cruz

Daniela Misso

not sure 

whether to stay or go . . .

hay-filled wind

—Daniela Misso

Mohua Maulik

mother of six

resettles between the books

kittens

—Mohua Maulik

Srinivasa Rao Sambangi

monsoon rain

one box ticked

in the farmer's wishlist

—Srinivasa Rao Sambangi

Priority Mail, a haibun by Zachery May

He never remembered the accident. Just the bumps, sirens pulsing out distant windows, a storm of red and white. Strangers worked over his body, rocking with waves. They pulled daggers from his skin, stabbed him with their own. Pressed deep in his chest. Numbness crept up his limbs, enfolded him in an empty hug. In that moment, the EMTs became his best friends. He cast his precious message in a bottle toward the shore, then slipped into the ocean.  

   gasping star

   tell the dark
   I love her

Sharon Ferrante

inviting dark clouds my blue morning 

—Sharon Ferrante

Arvinder Kaur

almost dusk 

a mynah tiptoes 

on gulmohar petals 

—Arvinder Kaur

snapping beans

my sister and I 

unburden 

—Arvinder Kaur

jungle walk 

he proposes to me 

with a wildflower

—Arvinder Kaur

Kelly Sargent

county fair

the stickiness

of school bus seats

—Kelly Sargent

Mona Bedi

road trip  

we argue over the flavor 

of potato chips --

how different the worlds

we come from

—Mona Bedi

Bryan Rickert

 at both ends of winter burning leaf scent

—Bryan Rickert