I’ve always been a Master of Sabotage, but only if it applies to myself. The reasoning goes, if I’m just going to be Icarus, fuck the fall and burn the wings, not caring until later that I never learned to fly.
Today. Yesterday. Last week… I’ve been biting my tongue, sitting on my hands, and staring at the Sun with matches in my pocket and wings at my feet. And I can’t allow myself to move.
Because this time, I want to taste those clouds as the wind takes me higher. I want to feel the heat as I climb to just the right spot. And I know I might end up in the dirt, the sea or worse, but first, I want to fly!
So forgive my silence, my stasis and my temporary fear, but I’m waiting for that moment I can trust myself to pick up my wings and put the matches down.
Chris Dean is a storyteller, spoken word artist and self-proclaimed Magpie Poet who writes from the heart of Indiana where they live with their husband, dog and too many cats to mention.
Their work has been featured by Cajun Mutt Press, Fevers of the Mind, Dumpster Fire Press and the upcoming Gal’s Guide Anthology. Their debut Book of poetry, Tales From a Broken Girl, was released in 2023 by Storeylines Press.
Ryan Quinn Flanagan is a Canadian-born author residing in Elliot Lake, Ontario, Canada with his wife and many mounds of snow. His work can be found both in print and online in such places as: Evergreen Review, The New York Quarterly, Cajun Mutt Press, Dumpster Fire Press, Red Fez, and The Oklahoma Review.
Silence in me strikes in lightnings of the sky, too gray and destroys my accumulated fear in the years of non-belonging. Silence in you does not know my fears and gets lost in the words of unknown people whose hands cannot touch the softness of our hearts. Don’t let me stay silent because my love is louder than your smile. The loudest one.
Jasna Gugić was born in Vinkovci, Croatia. She is the Vice-President for public relations of the Association of Artists and Writers of the World SAPS; Global Ambassador of Literacy and Culture for the Asih Sasami Indonesia Global Writers, P.L.O.T.S USA the Creative Magazine Ambassador for Croatia; and a member of Angeena International, a non-profit organization for peace, humanity, literature, poetry, and culture. She is also co-editor of the anthology, Compassion—Save the World, one poem written by 130 world poets.
The last important award with a single nomination for Croatia was awarded by UHE – Hispanic World Writers’ Union – César Vallejo 2020 World Award for Cultural Excellence.
Jasna is a multiple winner of many international awards for poetry and literature, and her work has been translated into several world languages. Her first independent collection of poetry was published in 2021, a bilingual English-Croatian edition, entitled Song of Silence. She lives and works in Zagreb, Croatia.
Many of her poems have been translated into several foreign languages and are represented in joint collections. Her poems have been published in magazines in the USA, Spain, Greece, Italy, Russia, India, Syria, Denmark, Brazil, Mexico, Bangladesh, Serbia, Albania, Nigeria, Belgium, China, Chile, Nepal, Pakistan, Korea, Germany and etc.
Her poems are published in so many world-famous print and electronic magazines, journals, websites, blogs, and anthologies like Spillwords Press – USA, P.L.O.T.S. The Creative Magazine – USA, Mad Swirl –USA, WordCity Literary Journal – USA, Medusa’s Kitchen – USA, Atunis Galaxy Poetry – Albania /Belgium, Lothlorien Poetry Journal – UK, Polis Magazino – Greece, Homouniversalis – Greece, Chinese Language Monthly – 中國語文月刊 – China, Eboquills – Nigeria, Azahar Revista Poetica – Spain, Sindh Courier – Pakistan, Magazine Humanity – Russia, Entre Parentesis – Chile, Daily Asia Bani – Bangladesh, Bharat Vision – Denmark, Litterateur Rw, Dritare E Re – Albania, Literary Yard – India, Gazeta Destinacioni – Albania, The Moment International News – Germany, Kavya Kishor English – Bangladesh, PETRUŠKA NASTAMBA, an e-magazine for language, literature, and culture – Serbia, Güncel Sanat magazine – Turkey, Cultural Reverence, a global digital journal of art and literature -India A Too Powerful Word – Serbia, Magazine Ghorsowar – India, Al-Arabi Today Magazine, Magazine Rainbow, Humayuns Editorial – Bangladesh, Himalaya Diary – Nepal and Agarid br. 24 and 16, Online newspaper NewsNjeju, Korea, Willwash. wordpress blogzine – Nigeria
Send in a riot of head-busters body breakers mind-fuckers I yell for them curse throw dishes blow speed limits nothing happens no one shows
What’s fiercer than me and yet it creeps along the sidelines where I cannot see it oozes thick and real as the E N D I want to be filled with something apocalyptic I want every tear drop of Lake Cocytus I ask the demons to step out come at me!!
Silence is deafening demons don’t show sinning doesn’t awake any recognition in their dimmed minds I’m full of madness kissing the Reaper with Ambien before bed who will send the demons in to thrash my life epically turn it upside down and burn an opening into the corners of my mind so darkened with corruption even Lucifer would be sick at a glimpse
Donna Dallas studied Creative Writing and Philosophy at NYU’s Gallatin School and was lucky enough to study under William Packard, founder and editor of the New York Quarterly. Lately, her work can be found in Horror Sleaze Trash, Beatnik Cowboy and Zombie Logic among many other publications. She recently published a novel, Death Sisters, with Alien Buddha Press. She also currently serves on the editorial team for Red Fez.
Editor’s Note:
“Death Sisters is a wild fucking ride! I highly recomended reading this book.” —J.D.C.IV
