September 29, 2025 Oh child, I LOVED being pregnant. It was the first War, everyone was half crazed. Seemed like all the boys was clogged in the trenches, never knew if they was coming back. Or in what brokedown vestiges… Continue reading

“What happens to a dream deferred?Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?Or fester like a sore—And then run?Does it stink like rotten meatOr crust and sugar over— like a syrupy sweet?Maybe it just sagslike a heavy load. Or… Continue reading

Things are not what they seem. Write about this. When she woke up, she retained a dream fragment. She is in a classroom, and someone is writing on the blackboard. There isn’t actually a teacher or even a hand, but somehow… Continue reading

18 July 2025 Is there such a thing as death by dust? wonders Shirley.Keeling over from aridity overwhelm? Here, babe: have some water.! How is it that he always anticipates her unspoken needs?Dehydration, that’s what the world is suffering from.… Continue reading

How to Re-home Angry Ghostsby Gair Hemphill Crutcher Feb 7, 2025 When my wriggling slippery body was fishtailing through the birthing canal and fully flowing breath in and out in loud baby bellow, the Mariona (the maid-midwife, unmarried, dedicated only… Continue reading

Cross That Line by Naomi Shihab Nye Paul Robeson stoodon the northern border of the USAand sang into Canadawhere a vast audiencesat on folding chairswaiting to hear him. He sang into Canada.His voice left the USAwhen his body was not… Continue reading

by Gair Hemphill Crutcher 26 Nov 2024 INNOCENCE GRANDMAMA EARTH JOY MYSTERY These are keywords from an artist caravan-cum-pilgrimage our guests just finished in Poland—Poland! Not Poland Spring, Maine, but…Poland, Poland–as in Eastern Europe! in September 2024. Raphaella Brice from… Continue reading

Praise to the Conjurors!Praise to mask and glove Praise to the Wanderers!Praise to cask and love Praise to the Conjugals!Praise to kin and kiln Praise to the Jugglers!Praise to wind and bin Praise to all the Shining Gems!Birthed in ooze… Continue reading

O tell us, poet, what you do. –I praise.Yes, but the deadly and the monstrous phase,how do you take it, how resist? –I praise.But the anonymous, the nameless maze,how summon it, how call it, poet? –I praise.What right is yours,… Continue reading

Short story by Gair Hemphill Crutcher, Sept. 2024 “The universe always conspires in my favor. Isn’t that your motto?” This only makes her cry harder. “Do you want me to come pick you up?” Hank asks. “No, I’ll see you… Continue reading