Author: Anne Leigh Parrish

Award-winning writer Anne Leigh Parrish’s next novel, an open door, will be published in October 2022 by Unsolicited Press. Recent titles from Unsolicited Press are the moon won’t be dared, a poetry collection, October 2021, and a winter night, a novel, released in March 2021. She is the author of seven other books. She has recently ventured into the art of photography and lives in the South Sound Region of Washington State. Find her online at her website, Twitter, Facebook, Medium, Instagram, Linked In, and Goodreads.

THE MOON WON’T BE DARED

July 13, 2020July 13, 2020 Anne Leigh Parrish

The monster has a name The monster has a face Striding over the tender fields of my soul— You keep the monster in your heart You cannot set him free He runs your mind Holds your body in the mirror When is he you? When are you he? I don’t Read more

GIRL WITH THE BROKEN BACK

April 20, 2020April 20, 2020 Anne Leigh Parrish

See how she scuttles across the floor The cold tile numbs, then burns Her palms, knees, shins All portions of flesh pressed on The harder thing—the hardest thing Not cursed yet— —Soon Then there’s this back The thing that holds her together The thing she’s built around Grew up around Read more

WHAT WE TALK ABOUT WHILE WE WATCH THE HANDMAID’S TALE

January 23, 2020 Anne Leigh Parrish

What if my dystopia is your heaven, my utopia your hell?We’re not on the same page, darlingMay I still call you that?You said it could never happen hereIsn’t that what the Germans said of Hitler?Where did they think his anti-semantic rants would lead?Darling, I know in your heart the idea Read more

You Made The World

November 1, 2019November 1, 2019 Anne Leigh Parrish

Agony—a gone knee Can’t bend—no way to mend This isn’t about aging—maybe about raging What stops the crazy rhyme-time? Unplug the clock Blind its ruby face Tear your eyes out if you must Choke on dust There I go again, too easy This lilting rhythm and sound Trapped by the Read more

MY MOTHER’S SCARVES

May 3, 2019June 13, 2019 Anne Leigh Parrish

Blue paisley when she feels humble Green polka dots when the beauty parlor is closed Stars and stripes for the Fourth Red and green for Yuletide Magenta for seducing the department chair Navy blue for telling my father it never happened Pink and yellow for the parent-teacher conference Beige to Read more

POLITICALLY CORRECT

February 17, 2019May 7, 2019 Anne Leigh Parrish

Who may tell her story? Who has earned the right? What if she’s come and gone? Has no tongue, no eyes, no hands? Must one wear her skin, eat from her bowl Fight nightmare’s demons on her sleeping mat just to feel the Rhythm of her heart? Aren’t we all Read more

A SURVEY OF THE FEMALE EXPERIENCE

January 19, 2019January 22, 2019 Anne Leigh Parrish

The rib never fit And the apple had worms Fig leaves are for fools shaming the Triangle of life Caves sheltered as long as you brought Down your share, felled by points you Chiseled by the hour, in between Sewing skins and putting the baby To your breast— Migrations, snow, Read more