Waiting to Exhale by Thom Wright

Thom Wright: I am the CEO of Lathrop Community in Northampton, MA. This piece was shared with residents and staff the week of 5/24/20 as part of an ongoing series of COVID-related communique. I am a Ph.D. with over 25 years of service to elders. Waiting to Exhale When my children were born, I anticipated Read More

Six Feet Between and Under by Candace R. Curran

Candace R. Curran is a founding member of multimedia exhibitions throughout Western MA. Twice named Poet’s Seat Laureate, publications include, Bone Cages and Playing in Wrecks and journals, Raw NerVZ , Meat for Tea among others. A Straw Dog member from Franklin County, she lives on the Buckland side of the Iron Bridge. Six Feet Read More

White Carnation by Diana Norman

Diana Norman is an Easthampton resident. She is new to the publishing world, proud to have seven pieces recently accepted for publication. White Carnation Colorful tulips nod in the breeze, and clumps of yellow and white daffodils huddle together as early spring winds waft across the hill. My family has worshiped in this small red-brick Read More

Shopping during the Pandemic by Amy Landau

Amy Landau is a native New Yorker who lives in Easthampton, MA in Hampshire County. In her writing, she is fascinated by private states of emotional upheaval. Her work has appeared in Ducts.org, Word Riot and HopeDance. She is a member of the Straw Dog Writers Guild. Shopping during the Pandemic Big E I wear Read More

Out in the Yard by John Walker

John Walker lives in Hadley, Massachusetts. He moved to New England recently from his home in Kentucky to be with his partner. These days he spends many hours in the backyard learning about planting and birds while singing Appalachian folk songs. Out in the Yard Here outside is birdsong soft in the breeze, Quietly making Read More

Hearts Relate by Madlynn Haber

Madlynn Haber lives in Hampshire County. Her work appears in the anthology Letters to Fathers from Daughters, Anchor Magazine, Exit 13 Magazine and on websites including: The Voices Project, The Jewish Writing Project, Quail Bell, Mused Literary Review, Hevria, Right Hand Pointing, Mothers Always Write and Random Sample. www.madlynnwrites.com Hearts Relate Relating seems to be Read More

Listen by Johanna Bartlett

Johanna Bartlett: I am a retired high school English teacher who lives next to the Wendell State Forest.  I have always written, but not for publication. Listen “And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.” — Friedrich Nietzsche And those who were seen dancing Read More

A Pandemic Pilgrimage by Kathryn Holzman

Kathryn Holzman’s fiction has appeared in online literary magazines and print anthologies. She is the author of a collection of short fiction, FLATLANDERS, Shire Press 2019. Her first novel REAL ESTATE is being published by Propertius Press in Fall, 2020. Links to her work can be found at kathrynholzman.com. A Pandemic Pilgrimage Last year, my Read More

Bach on Zoom by Corinne Demas

Corinne Demas is the author of thirty-five books, including five novels, two short story collections, numerous books for children, a poetry chapbook (The Donkeys Postpone Gratification), and a book for kids about the pandemic.   She’s a Fiction Editor of The Massachusetts Review and a Straw Dog Writers Guild member. www.corinnedemas.com Bach on Zoom I First, Read More

Ode to tying my shoelaces by Lindsay Rockwell

Lindsay Rockwell’s love of poetry is born from her curiosity of unifying themes of nature, science and theology, as well as her mother’s literary passion. Lindsay is a medical oncologist with the Mass General Cancer Center in Northampton, MA. Lindsay currently lives in Northampton with her wife and three furry children, Blaze, Opal and Huck. Read More