The Literary Whip

In Disturbed Areas, I Grow Like a Weed My grandmother and I sought them out:flowers that exploded into a universe ofpurple starscircling apurple center.We never learned their name.We simply plucked them from the cracksin the sidewalk and carried them with us. I found them again,thirty years later with my daughter.Our world was about to split … Read More

Today, Lise and Kevin explore “The Union” by Sky O’Brien, submitted to Zoetic Press for NonBinary Review #19: Dante’s Inferno The Union            EP. XXIX            10/24/18 ACT TWO FADE IN: INT. NBC STUDIO – DAY / NIGHT HOST is standing in front of THE AUDIENCE, looking into camera, recovering from a joke. He beams, … Read More

Today, Lise and Kevin explore “Into the Inferno” by Jordan Fash, submitted to Zoetic Press for NonBinary Review #19: Dante’s Inferno. “What is Dante’s Inferno?” Dan asked. “Come on,” Gabe replied. “The fact that you’d even ask me that is insulting.” The two boys stopped at the crosswalk; several cars zoomed between them and the … Read More

Today, Lise and Kevin explore “Ghosts” by Dan Forkapa, submitted to Zoetic Press for NonBinary Review #19: Dante’s Inferno. “Better to reign in Hell, than serve in heaven.” The tolling of church bells shakes me from my evening slumber. I wipe the sleep from my eyes and throw open the curtains, squinting out into the … Read More

Today, Lise and special guest David Walker talk about three poems, “High Desert New Mexico,” “She Is Everywhere,” and “Jetlag,” submitted to The Golden Walkman.  High Desert New Mexico The White Place claims its samesplendor, chalk and rocks rising sky high.Cathedral pillars finger down the red canyonwhere ancient water cannot return. Thin rounded peaks reachto … Read More

Today, Lise and Kolleen explore “Friar Alberigo’s Bad Fruit” by Julie Simon, submitted to Zoetic Press for NonBinary Review #19: Dante’s Inferno. I felt the blow across my face and I could scarce believe what had but just occurred. My brother turned and stormed away, his hand still clear upon my cheek. Within a day … Read More

Today, Lise and Kevin are doing something a little different – below is the original short version submitted to Zoetic Press for NonBinary Review #12, The works of Edgar Allan Poe. Following that is a longer, erotic version that was published in her collection Unfettered. We’ll be heading back to high school to do a … Read More

Today, Lise and Kolleen explore “Canto III The Opportunists” by Linda Johnson, submitted to Zoetic Press for NonBinary Review #19 Dante’s Inferno. I AM BUT ONE WAY TO THE CITY OF SUFFERING, I AM A WAY TO ETERNAL PAIN, THROUGH ETERNAL FAME, I AM THE WAY FOR A SELF-CENTERED PEOPLE. SKEWED INTENTIONS MOVED MY ARCHITECT. … Read More

Today, Lise and Kolleen Carney Hoepfner explore “Under the Influence of the Internet” by Eric Forsbergh, submitted to Zoetic Press for Issue #19 of NonBinary Review. Calf deep through roiling surf I wade.                     Elsewhere, fixated millions   plash in electron’s froth as well. Opaque foam bursts against my legs,   pippling away as evanescent lace. I reach out … Read More

Today, Lise and Kevin explore “Three Parts” by Simona Zaretsky, submitted to Zoetic Press for NonBinary Review #19: Dante’s Inferno. The bone bowl cradled the melted flesh like jazz music in autumn heat. The air hummed like California rain. The stars perched on the horizon. The sun rose like a question. He watched the moon … Read More