Instructions For Julianne, Upon My Death

Julianne, go hometake your dusty shoveland hollow three stepswindward of our treeits boughs bent, unripe fruitdangled over muddy riverroots snagging, thorns bloody with testament to youth's tangled hands stained pockets, thosewild dreamstake your shovel and digand digging, growsteep graves of dry dirtbeneath the rumbling thundertesting lesser courageyet let no rain prevent youpiling soil, peeling timewhile … Continue reading Instructions For Julianne, Upon My Death

Pripyat

In the hush of dawn, four soft paws pad across a hidden threshold. One step, two, four. The shadow-dappled body holds still for a moment, testing the air. Listening, ears perk. Dust swirls. Dark, heavy ivy twists into the concrete around her. Fresh grass pokes feathered shoots through cracks. Crepuscular insects whir their membranous wings … Continue reading Pripyat

Worn With Years

Suze dropped the black sack of Grandpa’s clothes next to an empty machine, fishing for coins in her pocket. She’d rather spend four dollars getting the old clothes clean than buying lollies on the way back from the salvo’s. Grandma’s volunteering stories about smelly garments dumped at her charity shop remained with her. It would … Continue reading Worn With Years