Helen Buckingham

the tidal bulge that occurs during high tide in the world ocean follows the revolution of the moon and the earth rotates eastward through the bulge once every 24 hours and 50 minutes the water of the entire world ocean is pulled by the moon’s gravity on the opposite side of the earth simultaneously there is a high tide due to the inertia of the ocean water and because the earth is being pulled toward the moon by its gravitational field yet the ocean water remains left behind this creates a high tide on the side of the earth opposite the high tide caused by the direct pull of the moon

throbbing headache . . .
do I dare disturb
the universe

Haibun prose from a Wikipedia entry
Last two lines of haiku from The Lovesong of J Alfred Prufrock, by T S Eliot

Marion Clarke

Not all rainbows paint the sky. Without warning, they spangle glass panes. You could step on them in cross streets. Feel them when kissed.

singing marionettes
far off
a sunrise

Alegria Imperial

During research of my daughter’s American Indian heritage, I met Apple* through a friend who is a full blood living in town. I asked if she and I could meet sometime for a proper interview. She suggested the Bingo Hall on the North Side.

November, 1992
Fort Worth, TX

I’ve never been to a Bingo Hall, what do we do?
Start by picking up a Bingo sheet and buy a dauber.
I choose a sheet and pay the cashier.
Well, I’m playin’ ta win. It’s four for me, and a cover-all.

(She’s tall, dark red, and rough. Although the hall is packed, we find a vacant table).

My lucky table, she says, as I place the voice recorder between us.

Why meet here?
Too cold to find a date tonight, her reply, while searching her sheets for the called number.

When did you start tricking?
In high school, when I discovered boys like me. I may not be book smart, but I’m bright. I know what men like… they pay.

Where do you live?
Out on Midway Blvd. with mom and dad, and my younger sister.

And they know you make money dating?
Yeah, we don’t talk about it.

How do you find your dates? Do you have a pimp?
Naw, don’t need one… I need all my money.
I find dates by walking, in some places I know.

How old are you?
28.
So, you’ve had your business a good 11 years?
She nods.

Do you ever get a mean date?
Used to, now I can tell right off th’ mean ones.

Do you carry protection?
I’m packin’ now… but you’re talkin’ condoms, right?
I nod.
It’s an option, but it costs more without a condom.

She wins the “four corner” game and cashes out …

As we head out the door I ask,
Can I drop you anywhere?
Sure, drop me down at the bank parking lot, 820 and I-35.

That’s nowhere near Midway Blvd and it’s cold out!
I’ve got my heavy coat; I’m good.

                    gravitational waves the half-life of blood

(One year later I am hired by the local school district as the Coordinator of the Indian Education Saturday program).

November, 1993
Fort Worth, TX

Parent’s day:
Apple walks in with her mom and dad, and proudly stands next to one of my students, a ten year old girl.

                    time/space continuum a parallel anomaly

…

*Not her real name – “Apple” is a term used in Indian Country for a full blood who has lost touch with his heritage. It is uttered as a lament, not a derogatory term.

Jan Benson

Yesha Shah

a pink jumper. my mom says she read something about calf muscles and ligaments. his mom says it’s nonsense. they both agree that it is too early anyway. i click “buy”.

it goes on and on –
the list of unpronounceable
lunar deities’ names

— Tzetzka Ilieva

Helen Buckingham

Marcus Liljedahl

A young woman has been stoned to death for adultery in a Taliban-controlled area of Afghanistan, while the man was let off with a lashing, officials say.

The execution, captured on video, went viral on social media. The authorities identified the woman as Rokhsahana, adding she was between 19 and 21 years old. A video of the incident shows a woman standing in a hole, while turbaned men throw stones at her head.

the clocks go back
a poppy seller
becomes the dark

The woman is heard repeating the shahada, or Muslim profession of faith, while her executioners shout “Allah hu Akbar. “The video first made rounds on social networks on late Monday, but the officials believe that the execution happened several days earlier, in the area controlled by the Taliban just outside Ghor’s capital Firozkoh. Rokhsahana was stoned by a gathering of “Taliban, local religious leaders and armed warlords…”

autumn mist
the spider web drips
a skylark’s song

For Rokhsahana in memoriam

*
Note: ‘clocks turned back’ refers to the annual return to British winter time. ‘poppy seller’ refers to people selling poppies on the street, door to door, to raise money for the royal British Legion prior to Remembrance Sunday on the 11th of this month.

Sheila Windsor