Iridescent Dusk

by Kim Malinowski

She died dreaming vibrant hues.

On ventilator, released,

dreaming and sleeping in clouds

all crimson and indigo,

no shadows, only shades of violet.

Whisper, hush, hesitant smile,

dreaming lilac dreams, dying, breath-by-breath.

Fading into marmalade skies,

kaleidoscope Autumn leaves,

lush mustards, tapered oranges, crinkling browns.

She faded into color, dreams, my memory.

Her ether is crisp citrine,

her dreams chanteuse, amber.

Her smile dusty rose and cheeks faint blush.

I did not know she was my prism

refracting light, breaking color into my life.

She leaves me pastels.

Hues leaving, leaving, leaving.

Kim Malinowski is a lover of words. Her collection Home was published by Kelsay Books. Her chapbook Death: A Love Story was published by Flutter Press. Her work has appeared in many magazines and literary magazines. She writes because the alternative is unthinkable. Nancy Andrews is an artist living outside of Philadelphia. Self taught in photography, she has been perfecting her images for over 15 years. Her subjects include abstracts, images inspired by nature, and observations of the world around her. Along with photography, she spends her days teaching art to little ones, playing ukulele and romping with her two little pups.

Not Even the Toilet is Safe—and I don’t mean from Covid-19

by Kim Malinowski

With a modern plague in the air, I excessively clean.

I wipe the doorknobs, the floor, my earlobes, elbows, toilets.

I am not catching Covid 19—because of my butt!

(I don’t even know if it’s scientifically possible—but, I’m not explaining that).

It is not my gluteus maximus that benefits—no, it is my cat Max.

Pristine toilets give Max the perfect chance to put his duck-butt

up high in the air and deep dive into the toilet bowl.

He comes up chin dripping, gleeful—I hope he drinks heartily!

Soggy bum. He’s proud—like we should clap his ingenuity.

I’m eagerly waiting to post a shameful photo on Facebook.

I plan to go viral.

Kim Malinowski earned her B.A. from West Virginia University and her M.F.A. from American University. She studies with The Writers Studio. Her chapbook Death: A Love Story was published by Flutter Press. Her work was featured in Faerie Magazine and appeared in Calliope, War, Literature, and the Arts, Mookychick, Bluepepper, and others. Stella Bellow is an illustrator currently attending Parsons School of Design in New York City.