Mark Simpson
Mark Simpson lives on Whidbey Island, Washington. Recent work has appeared or is forthcoming in Sleet (Pushcart Prize nominee), Broad River Review (Rash Award Finalist),Third Wednesday, Backchannels Review, Flyway, and Cold Mountain Review. He is the author of the chapbook “Fat Chance” (Finishing Line Press) and the forthcoming “The Quieting” from Pine Row Press.
The following work is Copyright © 2023, and owned by Mark Simpson and may not be distributed or reprinted in any form whatsoever without written permission from the author.
Dad Memorial
Dad at the office.
Dad at the bar.
Dad in a casket
at the funeral home.
Dad sleeping at the office.
Dad arguing at the bar.
Dad playing golf with the angel of distraction.
Dad smoking.
Dad going up in smoke.
Dad finally relaxed about it all.
Dad supine and Dad on his knees.
Dad in his wheelchair at the nursing home
and from which he called me
the day before he died.
Dad not complaining.
Dad not angry.
Dad not a burden to his children
and unbothered by his loneliness.
I’m talking to him on the phone.
The last conversation and I wished it over
and then it was.
Good for Dad in his best suit.
Good for Dad wearing his Masonic pin and military medals.
What was it he said to me?
Diane Webster
Diane Webster’s goal is to remain open to poetry ideas in everyday life, nature or an overheard phrase and to write. Diane enjoys the challenge of transforming images into words to fit her poems. Her work has appeared in “El Portal,” “North Dakota Quarterly,” “Eunoia Review” and other literary magazines. She also had a micro-chap published by Origami Poetry Press.
The following work is Copyright © 2023, and owned by Diane Webster and may not be distributed or reprinted in any form whatsoever without written permission from the author.
Jump Pact
Atop a skyscraper’s ledge
statues stand
in stubborn indecision.
“You go first.”
“No, you go first.”
“I’ll jump if you do.”
“I’ll count to three
and we’ll both jump.”
“Do we jump on three
or after you say three?”
“Here. Take my hand.
If you lose courage,
you’ll have to follow me.”
“What if you lose courage?”
Then we’ll stand on this ledge
like we always have.
