Short Story Spinoff | Young Love

It happened just like that.

Crush at first sight.

Of course, she didn’t know it was a crush. How could she? She’d never in all her 11 years of innocence experienced the tingling exhilaration of infatuation.

All she knew was that one minute she was standing self-consciously with her teacher…

Fiction | The Rocket Pod | Adapted Book Chapter

Simon jogged along the water’s edge, his arms stretched out like the wings of a sea-eagle. He swooped and swerved to miss the reach of the incoming tide.

Rocket trailed after him, lolloping and splashing in the shallows.

Out further, waves were breaking on the sandbar. Up ahead, the rocky…

Tanaga Poetry & Essay | Free Sex

Swingers are people who are married
or in a long-term relationship
and who like to have sex
with other people’s partners.
Collins Dictionary

With a flick of his pert tail
He seduces the female
Blue feathers work like a charm
“Let me fill your nest, madame!”

He’s a promiscuous wren
She’s…

FASD Awareness

I was speaking to an experienced clinical psychologist earlier today. I told her I had written an article about FASD. She looked at me blankly.

“Do you know about FASD?” I asked her.

This time, she responded with raised eyebrows, and a shake of her head.

“Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder?”…

Prose Poetry | Tribute

How can I say I wish I never knew you when to do so invalidates two-thirds of my life? There are some memories worth forgetting — yours, dear Mark, are not.

Oh, how I regret not knowing you better. Fifteen months gave us no time at all. So many questions…

Poetry | Toxic Workplace | Trust

Please excuse me if I don’t address you
by ‘Dear Puppet’ as we both know
who you are, so there’s no need
for further ID. For the record, I should
have listened to my gut when you told
me the place was toxic. Instead, I
told you I would stay to support the needy
and do the…

Japanese Poetry | Australian Animals

“Hey, black cockatoos
perched atop the bare branches,
what message have you today?”

“Good morning, humans.
Please don’t walk under our tree
or we might poop on your heads!”

“Thanks for warning us!
We will get out of your way.
Anything else we can do?”

“Well, now that you ask,
please…

Haiku

baby’s tiny teeth
eruptions from her gums — ouch!
chilled chew toy relief

© Carolyn Hastings 2021

In her most recent haiku prompt, Dennett asked us: What is your take on the word chew?

My thoughts jumped to my two granddaughters who are just entering teeth-sprouting phase. …