June 24, 2021

“Who Must Be Fed,” by Julian Warmington

It took only a moment for her hunger to overwhelm her. In place of her contented satiation, there was a desire to feed that now burned inside of her, familiar yet new. It ached, burning inside. Instinct overrode any logic lingering in her mind. She needed to feed. She already knew that the usual fruits and nectars wouldn’t satisfy this craving. There was something more she needed, something vital and warm that would complete her. This was what she had been born to one day consume, and she was ready. With a flutter of her gossamer wings, she leaped into the air in search of the nourishment she craved. She flew for some time, her mind singly focused on seeking. It wasn’t long before she picked up the smell of a source. The sweet, heady…

Continue reading →

June 22, 2021

“Tatiana’s Tango,” The Poetry of J.P. Christiansen

Posted by Mike Rochester in Writing

Tatiana’s Tango Her sex is a tango, sung in any language, please, in a black and white picture, mono chrome, with shadows of that desire, please. She stands under the lamp-post dividing day and lust, the music of a moon having come out to guide you, Tatiana. The small orchestra plays the seductive tones, the singer caresses words and refrain, here in the bar in Warsaw, 1938, where two bodies meet in a dance to celebrate life. A tango may last three minutes. I listen to the scratched vinyl surface of the 78. A memory arises with each turning of the needle in its grooves. Haunting notes and voice of a song which used to be. Now, 1939, and the gramophone is silent. The vinyl is broken. Did the walls fall on you, too, Tatiana…

Continue reading →

June 18, 2021

Juneteenth: A Day of Remembrance and Celebration

Posted by Mike Rochester in Writing

Editor’s Note: Black lives matter. Creative lives matter. We’re very fortunate to see both embodied in The Fictional Café’s Residency program. In both instances, these are word-artists who had already discovered The Fictional Café and been published here. Mbizo Chirasha was asked to become our Poet-in-Residence because of the powerful messages of freedom from oppression and tyranny in his poetry. We are saddened to learn that he remains in exile, now for four long years, in large part because of his book of poetry, A Letter to the President, which drew the ire of the dictatorship in Mbizo’s native country. Against powerfully thwarting odds, we’re trying to help. Derrick R. Lafayette is, with pun intended, our Black Knight of fiction. His fierce, compelling stories captivated us from his first submission. His strong advocacy for our…

Continue reading →

June 10, 2021

“Dottie,” A Short Story by Kerry Breen

Posted by Mike Rochester in Writing

Dottie looked past her reflection in the bathroom mirror to the metallic petals outlining her slight frame. She’d found the vinyl-coated wallpaper in W.T. Grants on Washington Street that Wednesday and had spent half of Thursday hanging it. Looking back to the mirror, she folded the final curler into her hair and snapped it shut. She then began her nightly routine of wrapping toilet paper around the circumference of her head to keep her cropped, platinum hair smooth around each bubblegum pink foam roller. She had thought the yellow and orange flowers traced in gold were just the springy boost the tiny bath needed, but now she wasn’t sure. “George? Hey, George?” she called into the hallway. “Yes, dear,” George replied, stealthily dipping his left hand into the candy dish on the kitchen counter. …

Continue reading →

June 7, 2021

“Sonnet to Morrow,” Poems by Yuan Changming

Posted by Mike Rochester in Writing

Sonnet to Morrow Since yester twilight Along the borderline of tonight With fits of thirst & hunger Among storms of pain Under attacks of viruses Between interludes of insomnia Beyond both hope & expectation At the depth of darkness Amidst the nightmare Through one tiny antlike moment After another . . . Against deadly despair Until awakening To the first ray of dawn Holistic Relationship (for Qi Hong) 99% from me plus 1% from you Makes Our love Just happily perfect Though, alas Not exactly ideal As anyone might wish Tips for Becoming a Great World Citizen in the e.Age 1. Don’t argue with any numbers, but just follow the google algorithm; 2. Abide by American interest rather than international law; 3. Whatever game Uncle Sam is up to play, join the team led by him; 4. Always shore…

Continue reading →

“Who Must Be Fed,” by Julian Warmington

“Tatiana’s Tango,” The Poetry of J.P. Christiansen

Juneteenth: A Day of Remembrance and Celebration

“Dottie,” A Short Story by Kerry Breen

“Sonnet to Morrow,” Poems by Yuan Changming

This is your site

Archive

Facebook