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THEMES by PROMPT
We publish writing using a series of prompts as an entry point for exploring emotions, personal histories, shared truths, joy, grief, shame, and those themes that matter most to us in our hearts.
Explore the themes by prompt below:
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Sep 14, 2024
Another Round
By Marjorie Chesebro — Ziprasidone – Seroquel – Tegretol, the newest sequence of pills for my mental health. My psychiatrist labels it
Sep 11, 2024
Cuckoo
By Jeremy Nathan Marks — I have not made the Sabbath officially holy for many seasons. I pray as far from Jerusalem as Mecca. Hebrew is a
Jul 17, 2024
Broken
By Ruth Bacharach — I have to call. Who will open the window when my roommate soils herself? I have to ask for a pillow, for chairs, one
Dec 2, 2023
Editor
By Karol Nielsen — I became a literary magazine editor after my memoir excerpt was named a notable essay in The Best American Essays.
Nov 11, 2023
Dog Days
By Paul Lojeski — Old dog limping along, stinking up the avenue. Remembering narrow roads when he still had his strut, that swagger only
Aug 24, 2023
We are still alive
By Shannon Kenny — In the waiting area of the public hospital where my husband is receiving treatment, I shut my eyes and listen as the
Jul 16, 2023
Cries
By Colin Ian Jeffery — We hear cries of children yet to be born, descendants of our families calling out against global warming. Out of
Mar 30, 2023
Resurrection Day
By Jason Imanuel — When I saw Mt St Helens blow I didn’t know what it meant, those flowers of darkness blossoming about it, the small
Dec 22, 2022
The Inner Critic Returns from the Dead
By David J. Bookbinder — Foolish boy, foolish boy, foolish boy, why do you torment yourself with ambition when you know as I have always
Nov 23, 2022
Functional Neurological Disorder
By Darleen Hunzinger — Day and night stranded in bed. Pain resonating from every pore. Smiling anyway. Singing anyway. Praying always.
Oct 14, 2022
5 Haiku
By Sergio Inestrosa — (1) The dark current of the Mississippi River. Birds screech. (2) A lovely flower from the mountain bower. A wild wind
Aug 10, 2022
Dandelion
By Lisa Lucca — Despite the small voice inside my head I grew used to hearing since I was an outspoken child, the voice from my family that
Jul 9, 2022
Dear Ummm,
By Tahirah Walker — I can't bring myself to finish writing your name. Like you couldn't bring yourself to finish loving me. You know I never
Jun 16, 2022
Move On
By Lynn White — It may not look that way but I've done more than survive my time in this city. It may not look that way
but I’ve done more
Jun 10, 2022
LIST’D (Love Is Stronger Than Death)
By Miko Reed Collins — A father is half of the air that their children breathe. It’s axiomatic. Believe I love you. Beyond cancer. I love
May 17, 2022
Bitter Hearts
By Thadeus Emmanuel — When our hearts are bitter and tears oozing like spring water, you will find it best to cry, harder with more nerves
Apr 29, 2022
A God Thing—The Drum Roll of Synchronicity
By Laura L. Engel — I know you don’t love me. You never give me the attention I deserve. Good luck finding some guy who wants a woman like
Apr 11, 2022
Burial
By U-Meleni Mhlaba-Adebo — MAYBE blood will be sacrifice to the God’s of Pain and Suffering. Maybe this blood will scorch the earth
Mar 13, 2022
Your Reflection
By Rachel Gomez — Would it remind you to nourish yourself, after you promised to never eat again. Because of how guilty you felt after last
Feb 15, 2022
Playground Angst
By Elizabeth Jaeger — Yes, I watched my son hit your son. You thought I was standing off to the side reading a book. But I was watching
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