LITSNACK

"immersion's also treason to a naming
that's a nailing down"

                                    -- Alice Fulton
Time,
I think,
is a woman.
 
Liquid.
All dripping pink.
And tied in knots.

A.J. Huffman is a poet and freelance writer in Daytona Beach, Florida.  She has previously published her work in literary journals, in the U.K. as well as America, such as Avon Literary Intelligencer, Eastern Rainbow, Medicinal Purposes Literary Review, The Intercultural Writer's Review, Icon, Writer's Gazette, and The Penwood Review.

There is truth in adjectives
They add flavor
Like chocolate in milk
Making it almost drinkable.

Not too many, of course,
Never "serendipitous"
Nor even "meticulous"
Just a few
Like pepper flakes
To give a poem heat.

A dash of this and that
Not a "copious" bit  of this
Or "ample" that
But salt
For proper seasoning.

Neil Ellman is a retired educator living and writing in New Jersey.  His poems have appeared in numerous print and online journals, and he has published four chapbooks.

If you like her madly you must
see the image of her fantastic face
in invisible mirrors.

If you like her madly you must
hear her sweet voice in the
beautiful songs of mute flowers.

If you still like her madly you must
feel the reflection of her
extinguished presence on dark walls.

You must keep her alive
Even if she is now
                              so far.

This winter pushed you deep
inside yourself, tucked your head
beneath your down comforter

where you couldn't hear
your phone ring when I was leaving
messages about the progress

of the sun. It's finally started setting
after five p.m. Will you begin
spending an hour in your garden

each afternoon after work again,
filling your yard waste bin
with dead limbs in the clean air

where your phone gets clear reception?

Amanda Laughtland lives in the suburbs of Seattle. Her book, Postcards to Box 464, was released by Bootstrap Productions in 2010. Visit her online at teenytiny.org.

AND THE SNACKIES GO TO. . .

STORY:  “The Thing About Magical Thinking” by Katrina Gray
Appearance Date:  May 20, 2010

This is a tender, moving story about loss, love, and the lengths to which we will go to support our closest friends in their time of need that also happens to have a blow-up sex toy doll in it. 

Favorite line: "She's fake, Carl." 

Say these things don't matter and I would (mostly) agree with you, and call me a sexist if you will (and I wouldn't agree with you), but I also think it adds a layer of resonance that this story was written by a woman. 

Katrina agreed, by the way. Bravo, Ms. Gray!

POEM:  “Third Post Card from Iraq” by Sandra Benitez
Appearance Date:  August 4, 2010

As I discussed with Sandra during her acceptance process, what I love about this poem isn't another poem about war that happens to have some birds in it, but a poem about birds that happens to have some war in it.

Congratulations, Katrina and Sandra.  Your pieces were evidence that the grace and power of words can touch people and move hearts. 

I will be contacting you to see where you would like me to send your gift card.

THE SNACKIES are a non-prestigious award given by the chief court jester and dishwasher here at LITSNACK.  Based solely on his highly-subjective tastes, THE SNACKIES will be awarded roughly every six months, with one poem and one story being chosen for the preceding time period.  Recipients will receive one $5 gift card to Starbucks in recognition of their fine skill and finesse with the English language in their chosen genre. 

Writing is the aftermath
the body’s cold and stiff
but strangely approachable
without an argumentative tone 
or egotistic smirk
just flesh and heart and nerves finally stilled
mid-flight 

Heaven, I suspect, is a place without words
where all is evident
regrets understood and accepted 
while one wanders in a flowing robe between 
white sacred trees  
growing from the starry grass.

Still, we said the words and 
drank a glass of wine 
with him smiling there

My daughter said 
they sew the mouth shut
And I can’t imagine he did not protest. 

But in the end, it's all we are -
collection of flesh and heart and nerves 
laid in a particular pattern
and the perfume we have left behind. 
in the hearts and flesh and nerves of others

The scent that stays in the stairwell 
after one has exited.


Jo Nelsen is a writer/singer/songwriter, aka The Talking Soprano. Co-author of a screenplay, "The Ring," novelized by Bantam, writer for The Hollywood Reporter, Armenian Reporter etc., she taught creative writing at Pasadena City College.  Her 2010 one-woman show: "Tribute to Motherhood" was featured at the Lyric Theater in Hollywood.
www.youtube.com/reviewsbywomen