Dining Out . . . 

By: Anna Cates, Wilmington, Ohioand Steve Van Allen, Cincinnati, Ohio even on gray daysthe sun fights to silver sheenbeyond cloud cover We held the door for a lady, dragging two wheeled suitcases, balancing a shopping bag on one. Her long black coat was nice, years ago. She parked her bags inside the door and shuffled to the counter.  "I have 4 dollars," dragging wrinkled ones from a pocket. "Keep your money; I'll cover it," said the manager. We took our order and began eating. When the manager swung by our booth, we thanked her. "I'm from Louisiana.  I was homeless, and…

Late October

By: Steve Van AllenCincinnati, Ohio, USA, Earth global warming?a beautiful spring daylate October

Allegory

By: Steve Van Allen Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, Earth I've lost so much: people, pets, keys, books. In the short time since settlers arrived, streams and rivers in the Alleghanies have lost too. I am daily polluted by chemicals and plastics in my food and water. Streams are damaged by global warming, fertilizers, dammed rivers, and air pollution  effects us all.  80% of all hellbender salamanders are gone, and like me they want to hide all day, take care of their young, and not bother anyone. eventidelonely swimsearching for peace

Day Three in Siem Reap

By: Anna Cates, Wilmington, Ohioand Steve Van Allen, Cincinnati, Ohio A kilometer from Ankor Wat, at Ta Prohm, a Mahayana 12th century Buddhist temple.  Huge fig trees hang over the temple and spread across the ground. Moss grows green over the temple stones.I walk around the walls and note three young saffron-robed monks sitting around a campfire. They call out, "Sok subai," and wave. I wave back and walk on. When I get back to my driver, I ask what the phrase means.  He says, "Are you happy?" In decades since, I have often wondered, am I happy? The US…

Insurance?

By Steve Van Allen - Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, EarthAnna Cates - Wilmington, Ohio, USA Sugar-Pie is third in line at the pharmacy, six feet behind number two.  As she walks down the allergy aisle, she often wonders if her mother cursed her into diabetes. The pharmacy is busy; it always is.  Finally, "Can I help you?" "My name is Sugar-Pie.  I have one prescription to pick up. My birthday is August 14." "Here it is.  That will be $280." She feels faint and holds onto the counter.  "It was $40 last month!" "You are into your donut hole.  Spend another…

Disabled Society

By Steve Van AllenCincinnati, Ohio, USA, Earth Judy cashiers 2 days a week at a Dollar Store,  loves the job, the people and it works well with her wheelchair. At the end of a day, she is tired, and so happy the two blocks home are mostly downhill.  She unlocks her door and rolls into her tiny apartment, turns on the one overhead light and says hello to her green budgie.  Judy grabs her one bowl and fills it with off-brand cheerios and the end her milk. Six months ago it was a no-tell motel, pay by the hour. She reads…

Anthropocene

By Steve Van AllenCincinnati, Ohio, USA, Earth hawaiian honeycreeper guam flying fox bachman's warbler yellow blossom pearlymussel scioto mad tom mariana fruit bat           Gone forever plasticpollutionlogging drilling hate asphalt microplastics cancer            Cannot leave soon enough butterfly the only thing movingthis hot afternoon