Daddy, Dementia and Letting Go

“Celebrate more in life, even the little things. I didn’t do that enough.” —Herman Soichi Noji When I think about my father’s journey at the end of his life, the word that comes up is MAGIC. There were days in which his dementia took full force, and the nurses would Read more

Minae Noji

Minae Noji is a writer, actress, voice-over Empress and rat enthusiast. She makes her home in Los Angeles and is devoted to empowerment, wholeheartedness, and studly ninjas.

Good. Better. Best. Do not rest until the GOOD becomes BETTER and the better becomes BEST.

My father was known for his positive and motivating adages. I have dreaded the mere thought of this day for my entire life. I have thought that the day my father’s heart stops beating will be the day that I take my very last breath. I have thought I can not Read more

The Last Thing

The last thing she wanted was to be in just another pretty box house in a small town sand box in the yard Joined the army World War II Driver of Ike I’m told Loved to drive mediation on the move unattached independent Grandma’s happy because she’s going away The Read more

Margaret Emerson

When Margaret Emerson retired from her career as a professor of nursing, she felt life open to her true passions: creating art through painting and poetry. She lives on the island of Martha’s Vineyard where a large artist community promotes exploration and expression. As a member of the Martha’s Vineyard Poets Collective, Margaret attends weekly workshops giving and receiving feedback about members writing. She has published poetry in local newspapers and has given readings at many programs on the island. Margaret’s poems are inspired by the awe in everyday life.

All Time is Now

I danced with the wind last night watched bits of gold in the sky saw the leaves reflect purple in the pond sat in a tree and screeched with the owls watched slumbering children grimace as visions of ogres beset their dreams felt the bulbs beneath the earth struggle to Read more

Andrea Quigley

*This is my first publication in an on-line journal. I started writing poetry in high school to ward off the weltschmerz of adolescence. As my writing continued, I developed literature courses, marketing plans, journals and workshops during my professional career, editing hundreds of essays and creative writing along the way. My love of poetry led me to study at The Skidmore Writing Institute, The Universty of Massachusetts Joiner Center, and The Cape Cod Writers Center. I have been published in 3 anthologies, as well as local newspapers and I have given readings in New York, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Cape Cod as well as Martha’s Vineyard, where I currently live. I am an active member of the Cleaveland House Poets, The Poets Collaborative, and The Poetry Society - all on Martha’s Vineyard.

On Letting Oneself Be Taken Care Of

As the eldest in a large family, I grew up taking care of others. Watching my younger siblings, I learned to develop a sixth sense; I reserved a part of my attention to wander on that periphery where something might flare up among any one of them, at any time. Read more

Adrienne Pine

Adrienne Pine's creative nonfiction has been published in The Write Place at the Write Time, Tale of Four Cities, The Yale Journal of Humanities in Medicine, and other venues.

Golden Years Heartache

The old man really loved his woman, clutching his arthritic hand around a curved cane confused without his love, lost without her.   Mind decay, mixed with golden years heartache the love of his life tries to fade away, yet her lasting memory remains.   I cry like a baby Read more

Valerie Vaughn

Valerie Vaughn is a poet, writer, and author. A native of central Pennsylvania, she received her Bachelor's of Arts in History from Mary Baldwin College. She is a contributor to Poets Unlimited, Crossing Genres, and Extra Newsfeed at Medium. Her works appear in narratorINTERNATIONAL Anthologies Volumes 2 and 3, where she is an Editor's Pick Recipient.

My Mother’s Death

My mother’s death was a shock at first. And then it was a relief. She was diagnosed with bone cancer on March 9, 2012. She died in the last minutes of March 21. How long she had had the bone cancer, her doctor would not suppose. What was known was Read more

Adrienne Pine

Adrienne Pine's creative nonfiction has been published in The Write Place at the Write Time, Tale of Four Cities, The Yale Journal of Humanities in Medicine, and other venues.

You Were No Accident

For all those who died before their time, and to their families. i. I don’t know you but as I rushed from the bus to the station there was an unsettling emptiness and that’s when I noticed the tape and the tent – there was so much blood. You flowed Read more

Esther Vincent

Esther Vincent is a poet from Singapore, who teaches Literary Arts and Literature at the School of the Arts, Singapore. She writes poetry that resonates on both personal and political levels and believes that poetry should empower, not exclude, engage, not evade. She was co-editor of a poetry anthology, Little Things (2013) and the accompanying Teacher's Guide (2013). Her poems have been published in New Asian Writing (Nov2016), Unhomed (2016), Sound of Mind (2014), LIVEPress Pilot (2014-2015), Little Things (2013), Ceriph #4 (2011) and in Message in a Bottle Poetry Magazine Editorial 13. Her poem, "Excuse me, what is your race?" was translated into Russian in To Go To S'pore (2013) by Kirill Cherbitski. She is currently working on a new collection of poems.