April, 2023
Ballerina by Allen Ashley
Beautifully balanced. A majestic solo twirl to Swan Lake. I am the prima.
Then the tinkling music stops, as do I. The box lid closes.
Allen Ashley has twice previously appeared in issues of Nailpolish Stories. Recent publications include poems in “Young Ravens Literary Review” and the anthology “Musings of the Muses” (Brigids Gate Press, 2022) as well as several works in “The World of Myth.” He is the founder of Clockhouse London Writers.
Clarity by Maxx Lillo
He’d leaned over to spit into the countertop wastebasket when he saw it. Among the paper towels was a bottle of whiskey. He knew then.
Maxx lives in Ohio and spends his time wandering the empty spaces.
Two pieces by Farah Ali
Worth a Pretty Penne
Delicious aromas wafted through the house.
‘I made your favorite.’ She filled a plate. ‘Kill someone for me.’
Saliva flooded his mouth. ‘Anything for you.’
Bee the Change
So honey cravings and crawling over flowerbeds weren’t the worst side effects of swallowing a bumblebee, she thought, yanking out another clump of striped fuzz.
Farah Ali lives in the UK and writes fiction and poetry, with a particular interest in haiku and other short forms. She has been published in various poetry journals and her supernatural Deerleap Hollow series is available for purchase from Amazon. When she is not writing, reading or researching, Farah can be found practicing yoga, enjoying good food and spending time in nature.
Coastal Couture by Suzanne Cottrell
Crimson ribbons swirl and discolor the Gulf waters.
Beauty succumbs to sulfurous stench.
“So much for our vacation,” beachgoers
hold their noses and retreat inland.
Suzanne Cottrell writes poetry, flash fiction, and creative nonfiction, which have appeared in numerous journals and anthologies. She’s the author of three poetry chapbooks and a hybrid book, Nature Calls Outside My Window, A Collection of Poems and Stories. She is an outdoor enthusiast and retired teacher, who is still riding the writing wave. Follow her journey at www.suzanneswords.com.
Black Cherry Chutney by Sherri White
Cooks, check your crates. Your ingredients are:
Cardamom
Tomatoes
Cherries
Long Pig
20 minutes on the clock. Remember, you really don’t want to get chopped!
Sheri lives in Jefferson, Maryland with her husband Chris, their daughter Lauren, their three black cats (Lucy, Sadie, and Vlad), and two dogs (Dobie and Josie). Their other daughters Sarah and Becca fled the scene last year.
In accordance with unspoken Maryland state laws, there is always a can of Old Bay in her cupboard, and she visits local breweries as often as possible.
https://www.facebook.com/sheriw1965
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