ARRESTED SONG by Irena Karafilly Calliope Adham – young, strong-willed, and recently widowed – is schoolmistress in the village of Molyvos when Hitler’s army invades Greece in 1941. Well-read and linguistically gifted, she is recruited by the Germans to act as their liaison officer. It is the beginning of a personal and national saga thatContinue reading “Books for Your Christmas Lists!”
Author Archives: darcie friesen hossack
3 poems by Dominik Slusarczyk
The Peasant’s Prayer Yesterday I prayed so Today I sit on my sofa and Wait for my prayers to come true. Soon I will have Someone to hug but I won’t hug them in Case I break them. Scavengers You have a Place in my heart. It is red and warm. You go there whenContinue reading “3 poems by Dominik Slusarczyk”
3 poems by John Grey
THE BULLY IN THE TREE In the fork of a tree, stands the bully boy. Gripping a branch in each hand, he puffs out his chest proudly. Even if you can’t see him from where you are, you’re surely familiar with the broken window, the kid with two black eyes, sobbing on the doorstep. AndContinue reading “3 poems by John Grey”
3 poems by Rachel J Fenton
Peas on Earth Seedlings greetings, I write in chalk on reusable labels, tuck them in the pots recycled and covered with paper then we walk to our neighbors. My son makes each stop, running up the steep gardens to learn kindness isn’t concrete, it must be grown. Twenty Years After ‘Twenty Years After What?’ asksContinue reading “3 poems by Rachel J Fenton”
3 poems by Claudia Wysocky
Heaven and Hell Silence fills the air, as I sit, alone, among endless rows of graves. I wish for heartbeats, for laughter, for tears. I miss the noise. But I know that I can’t have it. I can hear the footsteps of the living, but there’s no sound for me. Silence surrounds me, as IContinue reading “3 poems by Claudia Wysocky”
2 poems by Ioana Cosma
Mother Earth Pregnant is the earth and was from the beginning its replenished womb bathes us all in light it is forever birthing bringing forth offspring like the sky once exploded to make room for life. At times we hear its moans of labor, its trembling voice from roaring falls, the naked skin of treesContinue reading “2 poems by Ioana Cosma”
3 poems by R. Gerry Fabian
Seeking Asylum What Freud jumble-juxtaposed? Poor man. Forked helplessly in great homo sapiens noodle soup. (Chicken ego parlor play desire plus sublimated id broth plus super ego cemented noodle cocktail party chatter.) Imagine telepathic sensory flashes visualized as cajun bayou needle voodoo. A code vacuum scramble shields interior exercise message. Third Person Omniscient In aContinue reading “3 poems by R. Gerry Fabian”
5 poems by Abbas Maroufi. Translated by Bahar Momeni
هر شب مردهها از مرگ نمیترسنددرد ندارندرنج نمیکشندتحقیر نمیشوندکابوس نمیبیننداز جنگ نمیهراسندبه شکست نمیاندیشندمردهها بازجو ندارندتحت تعقیب نیستندمحاکمه نمیشوندحساب پس نمیدهندجهان را وا میگذارندمردهها در کائنات میچرخندتنها نمیمانندبا بال فرشتگان نوازش میشونداحترام دارندعشق من!مردهها برهنه میخوابندو منهر شبدر آغوش گرم تومیمیرم.آدمها «آدمهای کوچکبه آدمهای بزرگ فکر میکنندو آدمهای بزرگبه ایدهها»منفقط به تو فکر میکنمکوچولوی قشنگم!اصلاًاگرContinue reading “5 poems by Abbas Maroufi. Translated by Bahar Momeni”
Call for Manuscripts: War and Peace
WordCity Literary Journal’s Winter Issue will be dedicated, especially, but not limited to, those affected by the war between Israel and Hamas, and the hope for peace. With the understanding that peace is both infinitely simple and complex, whether it concerns the Middle East or Ukraine or any conflict, we invite poetry, fiction and non-fictionContinue reading “Call for Manuscripts: War and Peace”
Poets in Translation by Philip Nikolayev
Philip Nikolayev is a poet living in Boston. He translates poetry from several languages and is currently translating poetry from Ukraine. Nikolayev’s works are published internationally, including such periodicals as Poetry, The Paris Review, Harvard Review, and Grand Street. His several collections of verse include Monkey Time (Wave Books; winner of the 2001 Verse Prize)Continue reading “Poets in Translation by Philip Nikolayev”
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