By WILD THYME Thanks for continually providing me and my loved ones with positive opportunities, experiences, and connections that bring us love, light, happiness, guilt-free monetary abundance, and success in our endeavors endlessly and effortlessly with ease and grace. I am grateful for the blessings that I continually receive. I bring love, light, and happiness to all that I encounter. I am love. I am loved. I am safe. I am powerful. 

By Olivia D Lovrich The big-bellied creature flew high above the sea He flaunted every feature; he swam so carefree. He twirled and dove down; his old rival did the same. Both deserving of the crown, both yearning for the fame. But who would win this impressive show? The entire pod observing, waiting for the blow, Mr. Big Belly fought to flaunt till the end. He won every battle… and gained a new girlfriend.

By Skylar Wright  There is such love in my home. I’ve prayed and heard sermons in your laughter downstairs. In the fear of the loss of this, pray in laughter  At the altar of our time shared, and then to share.

By Harry M Kachline The walls were covered in faded guilt, The curtains a grey shade of doubt, While the corners had collected shards of spent lives, Crusted with shattered dreams. No one goes in there anymore.

By Deb Codding Life’s journey and the path followed is a rhythmical series of comings, goings, decline and regrowth–changing the landscape continuously, much like the ebb and flow of the tides. While it rarely turns out the way we expect, it always turns out the way it should when we pay attention and learn from the lessons encountered along the way.

By Destiny B Key It’s a month full of transitions in many ways. Leaves are still lingering, the fiscal year is just starting, the snow is falling but it’s hesitant to stick. Bears are still out but preparing for a winter hibernation. Halloween is around the corner, where little ghosts, witches, and goblins are going house to house for a treat or two. The outfits you see are some concoction of a cozy sweater, pair of Xtratufs and a matching beanie. It’s a mixture of cold and warm outside, cold but not cold enough. It’s a mystery, one that comes once a year.

By Destiny B Key  The summer before I left for boot camp, I came across a creek that was filled with salmon. When I say “filled,” I mean filled with salmon everywhere. I took off my sweater, put on my Xtratufs, and hopped in. I watched their swimming patterns and waded into the waters until an opportunity came for me to swoop a salmon in my hands. I fell in a couple times, but eventually I got my hands on a salmon. Think about it. How many people get to run through the cold Alaskan creeks and catch salmon with their hands? 

By joe The moment the pitcher releases the ball the play begins. The outfielder listens to the sound of the ball when it contacts the bat. He watches the ball jump off the bat, and feels the air and wind and the turf beneath his feet. Then he goes to a spot. But not just any spot. In the immense green of the outfield, he goes to the spot, and he makes a seemingly improbable catch. To listen, to watch, to feel, to know.

By Audri Goodwine Growing up, I was quiet and very observant of my surroundings. I didn’t realize this is who I was until I got into college. Before I left for school, I was so used to just coming home, greeting my dogs and parents, hanging out with my former partner and family, and I was fulfilled. But once I moved away from home, I realized how alone I was. I’m slowly learning how to feel more comfortable around others. I run out of my social battery very quickly, but there’s definitely improvements. I’m trying to accept who I am, and honestly, that’s a start for me.

By Annelida K SmithVail Scene: brown liquid has spilled over shirtfront and lap, over pages. A shouted curse gives voice to the damage, outrage on behalf of uncaring words. Scene: ink has spilled onto sheets of fiber. Spilled from a cartridge, spilled following the motions of a printer belt, spilled precisely into letters. Scene: a sentence has spilled out from shaking lips. It wasn’t meant to be given voice, was supposed to remain safely withheld. An accident, intentional, following the motions of a heart pumping blood, blood that is not spilled. Blood that cools and dries anyway.