Enjoy this unmatched collection of deep, surprising, original, and beautiful work.

A Bunch of Nonsense by Brandon C. Lay
Reality and fantasy can coexist in our hopes for the future.

A Thousand Martini Hours by Julian Langness
A poem contrasting the pain and the dignity of aging.

The Act of Seventeen by Lisa Meerts
A battle between numbness and passion in the face impending adulthood.

Always by Francesca Lewis
Exploring the simple and daring nature of beauty.

An Exceptional Tree by Blair Bowman
A pitiful Christmas tree is transformed into an object of pride.

And He Came Down From High by Casey Acierno
A delicate and poignant lament for a world in need of peace.

Anthropology by Cameron Branson
A brief yet delightfully profound poem.

Back for One More Taste by Sam
Struggling to decipher sexuality and love.

Barely Remember by Samantha Wiselogel
Memories of the poet's grandfather, free of cliches.

Bart's People by Daniel Wiseman
Has the human race become wishy washy and disrepectfully rebellious? The consequences of such a truth.

Before Dawn by Sarah Bell
A short piece painting the image of a man causually waving at fading stars.

Begin by Ben Meyer
If we could choose not to be born, would we?

Behind the Stars by Lorna Clarke
He resides--lies--behind the backdrop of the stars.

Black Mamba by Larry Sokolovsky
A searing poem about nature.

Blind Love by Raven Bishop
"You always seemed/so absent, so prevalent,/when we shared our thoughts/together."

Blue by Kimberly Farrow
Tightly crafted verse reopening our eyes to the wonders of the color.

The Car by Kristen Cox
A striking retelling of a disturbing news story.

Chasm by Lauren Matosziuk
A True description of two people who think the are closer than they are.

Christmas by Raven Bishop
Taking a different angle at the passing of anticipation for Dec. 25th.

Close by Kaytee Grace

Come and Play with Me by Nika Butler
A cliche-free "little ditty" about the carpe diem lifestyle.

Complex Fruit by Brandon C. Lay
A concise metaphor on gender.

Conversation by Kristen B. Cox
An ordered conversation about grandiose subjects.

Corn by Charlotte Bishop
The poet uses the metaphor of an ear of corn to describe her parents’ divorce.

Crying Out by Lorna Clarke
Alone at night, she lies in bed and she cries out for comfort and greater meaning in life.

Depression by Joi Tribble
Like a serpent, depression bites to kill with its poison. But we still cling to it when we have little else.

Diamonds by Ben Meyer
A convicting poem that traces the origins of "a girl’s best friend."

Did You See the News Tonight? by Nneoma Amadi-obi
The poet contemplates the death of a stranger.

Diving by Anne
The metaphor of drowning us used to explore a loved one's secrecy.

Dream #45 by Tracy Meleca
A satirical conversation with a praying mantis.

Dried Flower by Krissy Brady
An abstract look at misunderstood loners who are frozen in time by our school yearbooks.

Drowning by Taryn Egan
"I didn't think I'd be alive today./I've died far too many times for one life."

Drowning by Tyrel Elzinga
Only three lines long.

Dying Stars by Taryn Egan
"The stars died today./Somewhere in China."

Eccentricity by Ali Boyd
A poem contrasting a person’s true identity with the expectations of others.

Echoes of Forgotten Song by Chris Haley
Images from a fantasy world lead us to look deeper at the one we inhabit.

Edumacation by Ryan Austin
A desparate and delightful attempt to invoke about as many gods as necessary to create a good poem.

Erudite by Sravana Reddy
Language presents opportunities for play, in a deeply gratifying way.

Esperando by Katherine Sycamore
A Spanish poem (with its English translation) about jealosy and longing.

Estrellas by Sergio Soto
A concise and striking poem presenting the reader with a new way to look at the stars.

Eternity by Sravana Reddy
A poem of philosophy as a personal art of being.

Even Public Transport Arrives Eventually by Corey Hague
"We're all waiting/For the right one/To come along/Make everything better."

Every Minute by Ryan Frazier
The intensity of life and the struggle involved in sharing it with others.

Father by R.J. Andrews
A powerful piece describing a young man's anger at his father, contempt for the reality that he is taking on his image, and failing attempt at giving up his love for the man.

For Greg by Tara Funkhouser
A passionate and kicking prose poem to a lost friend.

For You to Eat by Daniel Wiseman
A pointed rhyme scheme conveys a cynical reality straightforward.

Forgetfulness by Atiyeh Moghadam
Forgetfulness is "a pool of quicksand, without depth/Swirling in a rapid and ceaseless vortex."

Freedom by Kelly O'Shea
A tight poem with flawless rhyme carefully packed with truth. Or at least an angle on it.

Furry Curtains by Sam
A poem emanating the feeling: Here's how it is. It's not how I'd like it to be.

Game of Life by Joi Tribble
This outpouring of emotion discusses a game we all know well, the most serious in which we will ever participate.

Glass by Sravana Reddy
Organized in three thematic sections, this poem dwells on the distinctive beauty of glass through metaphor, personification, and narrative.

Graffiti River Boy by Matthew Capestro
A portrait painted in jazz.

Grandma by Kristen Green
Specific memories--all these insignificants--conjure up deep emotions.

Grandmother by Christina Hsu
An honest, loving portait.

Great Things Greater by Lauren Anderson
A poem of love and life complemented by beautiful form and careful rhyme.

Gripping Fear by Sravana Reddy
A unique French poetic form is the palette for this reflection.

Haiku Series by Nicole Diaz
A vibrant set of Haiku inspired by Van Gogh's painting "Cafe Terrace at Night."

Half Mast by Hayley Goodchild
Once, the sails of her capacity to love were stretched full.

Her Eyes by George Murzin
Her eyes, windows to great depth, perceive a deception that isn't there.

Her Whisper in the Twilight of Armageddon by Ryan Frazier
Can love overcome death and life forever?

Holy War by Jill Abramson
Amid a dry landscape of violence, "the taste of peace fills my mouth."

Homage by Katlyn Walsh
"I want to lose myself in the rain/a torrent/of black angels' tears/somewhere in deep forest."

How Can I Not Have Known You by Kristin Beers
Wondering how something so great could be beyond her grasp, although not her reach.

Hues (Memories of Africa) by Anderson n'Swaart
Recollection takes the form of vivid imagery.

The Human Condition by Samantha Stiers
A short image of the isolation of humanity.

I by Sally Golden
A straightforward, honest expression of deep emotion.

I Almost Married Opportunity by Eric D. Radoux
...but the speaker let her slip, and she found another man. In careful rhyme and meter, he tells us he'll probably repeat the mistake.

Icarus by Brittany Weiss
Using the truth in an ancient myth to turn our perspective right side up.

I Close My Eyes by Bronwyn Valentine
What is the point to life without freedom?

I Could Fill Each Line by Corey Hague
He could push his words on people and "it wouldn't mean anything."

I Hate People, I Love Strangers by Keith Schaffner
Some attitude and a profound expression.

I Slept in My Car on Madison Street by Carsten Belanich
After a night in his car, the writer observes his surroundings and is observed in return.

If Only You Could Know by Michael C. McGehee
The feeling of utter helplessness experienced when this teen falls in love with a girl drowning in depression.

I Won by Nicole Lawrence
It's not so much the experience itself as the realization of its significance.

The In-Between by Peta S.
The poet explores the vulnerability of early morning.

In the Palm of Remembrance by Cassandra Coxen
At the end of all she sees in a stark landscape, "now I find myself standing alone."

Influence by Erin Fenton
Deep, affectionate adoration isn't stagnant; it bears fruit.

Intangible by Amber Shields
When much-touted connection paradoxically serves to illustrate a deeper barrier.

Invisible by Peta S.
An unnoticed person's reflection on what kind of a moment is "enough."

Islands by Jillian Stewart
Is it possible to cross the waters between these islands on which we all live?

Jaded by Mary Ugbode
"Every day I return a little less of me/A little more of them."

Juniper Tree by Cassandra Coxen
The speaker sees the tree, like herself, "Waiting for the stars to answer back/Waiting for deliverance and absolution."

Kindred Beings by Merryn Spencer
Feeling more than close, feeling kindred.

Kitten/Deny by Mike Connolly
"I cannot be subdued,/and will not allow you to forget me."

Lágrimas en Sangre by Kathie Rivera
"You who have condemned me...I will come back in the light of lightning and forever they will pay for my tears of blood."

Life by Sravana Reddy
What truths can a flower reveal?

Life of Birds by Lauren Beebe
A poem in praise of birds and the magic that surrounds them.

Llanto del Corazón by Kathie Rivera
A Spanish poem (with its English translation) of sadness, hope, and undying love.

Love Not Divulged by Michael C. McGehee
This poet expresses his joy when he finally determines that he never loved his ex-girlfriend and that true love still awaits.

Lovestruck and Unworried by Alioth
Longing to become something higher.

Making Movies by Daniel Berlin
What insight do we gain seeing life "translated to vision"?

Mamma Says by Jessica L. Craft
Sometimes, there are people you love, regardless of whether you're supposed to.

Masking in the Morning by Angela Collard
An abstract evaluation of the masks we put on to be beautiful.

Masquerade by Tracy Mumford
Somehow or another, all deceptions end.

Memorial War by Irené Colthurst
A contemplative response to the Vietnam War Memorial from the child of a war veteran.

Mi Hermana by Kathie Rivera
An admonition to really live and a confession of love from older sister to younger sister.

Mirror Dance by April Steenburgh
An expression of the frustration of living in a world where we are trained to "be what they want to see."

The Mothering Kind by Ashley Pierce
Frustration with femininity.

Midnight Waltzes by Tracy Mumford
Freedom displayed in the movement of shadows.

Mistake by Brianne Moser
An encounter with an abused friend.

My Filth is Hidden by Daniel Klotz
You think me clean, but I have only mastered hiding my filth.

An Observation on Perception by Amy O'Neil
An image and reflection to keep us in our proper place.

Obsession by Emily Miller
Searching for love and finding something equally profound.

Of Light and Dark by Jillian Stewart
A short poem discussing opposites with a memorable last stanza.

One for the Ladies: How to Deal with a Fashionable Lack of Self-Esteem by Amy O'Neil
An informal pseudo-poem about handling praise in an age of "liberated women."

One Nothing by Psalm Pollock
"You own everything/sometimes/and don't know what else/to do/but take it/until it stops being given."

One or the Other... by Corey Hague
A poetic glance at relationships.

Originality by Robin Pille
Would it be wrong to be original?

The Other Side of Lee by Meredith Barber
A beautiful and playful jazz poem, featuring words from trumpet, sax, piano, and bass.

Overexposure by Alexandra Montero-Webber
When you've been blinded by reality, you long for the comfort of a darkroom.

Paper Demons by Psalm Pollock
An image of beauty.

Paranoia by Molly Vozick-Levinson
What more is it than knowing we cannot escape?

Pasado, Paradise, Passion by Milton Flores
A short, playful series of personal images.

Pattern of Forgiveness by Catherine Clare Schilling
An active portrait of an intangible noun.

Plasma by Lacey B. Hoyer
Recollection takes the form of vivid imagery.

A Poem by Andrea Buchanan
This poem explores the questions, How can you express all these mysteries? How can words touch, break, destroy, create feelings undiscovered?

Ponder Our Path by Helene Chu
"we've come/to that place where age/is our destiny/and eventually/we'll be just like my parents."

Pose by Laura Marie Johnson
Life is chaos, but she pretends everything is fine. Few see through the disguise.

Posthumous Reflections of a Prehumous Poet by Daniel Klotz
Fear that, like Poe or Stevenson, no one will care until after death.

Practically a Joke by Daniel Klotz
A poem about two truths. The first is that if you take a group of boys into the woods for a week, you can expect trouble.

Present Drag by Helene M. Chu
Some poems have tone, and some, like this one, have attitude. Reflections on the drag of the past.

Prized by Kira Sfiligoi
An external view of the attitudes and actions of the American Dream.

The Razor by Gonca Esendemir
A bloody portrait of the suicide of a girl void of hope.

Rescue of Me by Meredith Paige Nesbitt
A poem detailing one young woman's salvation from the mundane.

The Romanticized Star by Emily Miller
The speaker is looking for more than what she's told is everything she should be.

Rose by April Steenburgh
It takes a rose to reveal the weakness which the subject of this poem hides so well.

Routine by Margaret Hanson
Passion has dwindled until it only exists for a man that doesn't exist.

St. Francis's Program for Gifted Children by Kelly O'Shea
The Socratic method meets its mystical match.

Sad Eyes Look Ahead by Tony Ly
It is when we really see what lies ahead that our minds begin to race.

Science Class by Hannah Searsy
A short poem about the anxiety and pressures of high school.

Series by Paul
Four humorous haiku.

She's got by Sonia Belasco
She has what's important, but she still has fear.

Sidewalks by Devin Stevens
When your suburban life is smoothly plotted out for you, the future is so predictable that even future moments of sentimentality and regret can be imagined.

Siinter Klaas by Ben Meyer
A powerful and moving image of our wishes and the reality of the world.

Sink, to by Daniel Klotz
This poet's trip to "the exit that has meant Christmas to me since I was six."

Six Months Later by Psalm Pollock
An image, a narrative, and the first person.

Smell of Sleep by Samantha Wiselogel
An imagist poem as powerful as any other.

So Thick Your Fear by Helene Chu
Lack of trust causes "a tide that will sweep/me away from you."

Song of the Spirit by Shannon Prince
Part four of the author's "Roots of Greatness, Wings of Light" collection about her grandparents (the other three parts are essays). This wildly imaginative poem reflects on her maternal grandfather's spirituality and dignity.

Spite by Anika Klee
You'd never find such a perfect exploration of a word in a dictionary.

Starry, Starry Night by Marley E. Cassels
A vivid picture of a soldier's return, through the eyes of a child.

Symbiotic Summersaults by Emma Goodstein
An abstract image of intimacy.

Symphonic Silence by Joi Tribble
When the world is still and quiet, the silence is a sound of nearly inexpressible beauty.

A Symbol by Kelsi Dick
A loose-form poem exploring the poet's gaze.

Talking to an Image by Trista Roland
At first, it seems like thirty other poems of frustration you've read. Keep reading.

A Taste by Katie Grace
"I'm not talking love... in this suburban/life, even I/could use a taste/of something different."

The Telemarketer by Cameron Branson
A brief yet delightfully profound poem.

There Was a Time by Erin Fenton
Willingness to be taken over.

Traffic by Molly Vozick-Levinson
A Malayan poetic structure, the pantoum, ties this poem more closely to speech than to letters.

Trying Again...After Breakfast by Brandon C. Lay
In sensual style, this poem moans for a chance to make breakfast before giving her another try.

Twilit Dusk by T. Winters
An exploration of why nature can't be civilized.

Uncertainty by Charlotte Bishop
The poet shares five personal experiences linked by a sense of uncertainty.

Unheard by Sara Ibrahim
The reader cannot help but feel the straining of her soul.

Joy from Her Voice by April Steenburgh
A speculation on the feelings experienced by a lesbian girl in today's society.

Urbania by Vivian Blaine
"There must be more to life--/Graffiti on the walls/Announcing that he loves her."

Virgin by Theresa Staruvch
The profound reflection of a victim of rape.

Virginity by Joyce Leong Wanqing
Regret and degredation tear at the soul.

Waking up, but not really... by Corey Hague
We lose perspective when we get caught up in too many distractions.

Waves by Jeni Schaller
A long stare at a sea of people.

Weekends by Don Lippincott
"I spent the weekend/Doing just what I wanted... Doing just what I hated"--stewing in memories and heartache.

What if Alone by George Murzin
A poet wonders who will help him if he can't do it alone.

What if They Had a War and Nobody Came? by Robin Pille
A creative free-form poem exploring the depths of the human psyche.

When Will They Realize by Emmie
Wishing others would shed their ignorance.

Whispers by April Steenburgh
Do you hear me? You deny my acquaintance, but I know you well. It is the intangible which exerts such power discussed in this piece.

Why am I here? by Alys Mathers
An attempt to express love to a friend goes wrong.

Why Distractions Exist... by Corey Hague
When the distractions are gone and we can concentrate on our hurt, we find how lost we really are.

The Wind by Laura Marie Johnson
The wind revives a vivid memory of whatever it was, perhaps love.

Will You by Rahima
Battling with insecurity.

You by Gemma McConville
A powerful poem about giving yourself over to someone without reservation.

Your Last Winter by Andy Rice
Learning to fear not just his own mortality, but that of loved ones. Written for the poet's 96 year old grandmother.