Across five exuberant sonnets, Russell Bittner turns the coming of dawn into an elaborate argument for desire. Doves, stars, moon, sun and hill are recruited into a witty, formally playful courtship in which arithmetic, prudence and passing time are repeatedly challenged by the sheer appetite to love, risk and delight..

Martin Heavisides makes an impassioned case for Peter Barnes as one of the great, insufficiently recognised comic dramatists of the modern stage. Moving through The Ruling Class, Laughter!, Red Noses, Dreaming and Barnes’s shorter works, he celebrates a theatre of extravagant invention in which comedy confronts cruelty, hierarchy, death and received wisdom without surrendering its delight in human possibility.

“In Time” by Nonnie Augustine imagines a shared future built not from perfection, but from beauty, wear and mutual care. From a rain-sheltered café in Montmartre, the speaker looks ahead to chipped porcelain, faded carpets, Mozart in an ageing car and two lives learning to steady one another. Tender and quietly assured, the poem finds enduring love in the graceful acceptance of time.

Exploring the ephemeral space between day and night, 'Down The Crack With The Crickets' by Kristine Jensen delves into the fleeting nature of thoughts and emotions. An angry thought disappears with the wind, symbolizing lost moments and the struggle to reclaim them.

Explore the poignant poem Mates by Iain C. Smith, dedicated to Jake and Patrick. Reflecting on the sudden loss of a young life, it intertwines themes of grief, camaraderie, and the fleeting nature of youth, as experienced through the lens of a soccer match metaphor.

"Explore the evocative poem 'Pipedream' by Iain C. Smith. A vivid blend of memory and observation, it captures a moment of reflection amidst a storm, evoking nostalgia and introspection about family, past experiences, and the transformative journey of life.

In Picture on Picture, Mari Fitzpatrick captures the lively interplay of nature and imagination through a vivid cat-and-mouse chase by a rain barrel. Blending humor and reflection, she contrasts the raw vitality of the pursuit with the serenity of a garden setting. The piece evolves into a poetic exploration of movement, tension, and the delicate balance of life in its fleeting moments.

In The Mandylion, Joe Giordano intertwines art, danger, and family dynamics through the lives of Anthony and Valentina Provati. This gripping excerpt sets the stage for a high-stakes narrative as Anthony, a Manhattan art dealer, is drawn back into a dangerous world by Sophia, an alluring figure from his past. With Valentina’s sharp wit and FBI expertise, the siblings navigate temptation, loyalty, and the shadowy underbelly of the art world.

This section of the website displays original illustrations and details their use in various literary contexts. For more information and to view the artwork, you can visit the page by clicking on the imagge. Thanks!

Hostovsky writes about the allure of poetry and the arts, and how they can inspire us to make choices that might not seem logical but are deeply appealing to our sense of beauty and romanticism.

Robillards' poem will resonate with with anyone who has experienced the transition from childhood to adulthood, evoking both nostalgia for what is lost and an appreciation for the growth that change brings.

A call to embrace the cycles of life, with all their complexities and nuances, and to find beauty in the familiarity of the recurring themes that shape our existence.

Explore 'The Source of Madder' by Maria Isakova Bennett, a vivid poem in The Linnet's Wings 2013 Winter Issue, delving into art's essence, creation, and transformation through the alchemy of madder dye.

A subtle, magical realist story about a woman who has drifted away from books, only to find herself drawn back into reading through memory, unease, and the living presence of stories.

In “Grandma’s Story,” Bill Frank Robinson lets family history spill out through Grandma’s memories of circus roads, prizefighting, early automobiles, love, loss, and Lonnie’s fateful encounter with Todd Toolbee. The piece blends humour, grit, and oral storytelling into another vivid Archie family chronicle.

Ann Walters' poem intricately weaves together these narratives to present a multifaceted exploration of flight, capturing its beauty and brutality, its capacity for liberation, and its potential for sorrow. The repeated motif of flying serves as a powerful metaphor for the human condition, reflecting our deepest desires, fears, and the inevitable search for meaning beyond our tangible experiences.

Venom by Dennis Tallefer explores the complexity of human emotions and the struggle for personal safety and dignity in a world that can be unwelcoming and dangerous for those who are perceived as different; it also highlights the need for empathy and understanding towards individuals who are fighting their own battles, both internal and external.

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Adam Kluger’s “The Party” is a wickedly comic dialogue of literary appetite and social performance, where talk of prose, platform, food, friendship, and flesh turns darker by the line.

Stephen Zelnick’s “New World Poetry” follows Rubén Darío from Nicaragua into modernismo, politics, myth, and cultural resistance, tracing the music and force of a poet who carried the New World into literature.

Mozart and I by Alex Braverman is a narrative that captures the essence of what it means to be an artist and the often tumultuous journey of balancing personal vision with external pressures. The narrative oscillates between admiration and resentment, showcasing how genius can be both a gift and a curse. The reference to Chaim Potok's novel "My Name is Asher Lev" serves as a poignant parallel, highlighting the universal struggles of artists who must navigate the tensions between their creative expressions and the values of their communities or families.

At a grave, the narrator receives a box of ashes, the remains of a loved one. Struggling to find poetry in the moment, they recount the cremation process and the stark reality of loss.

In "When the Morning is a Prayer," Kathleen Cassen Mickelson captures the serene beauty of a winter morning in Minnesota. The poem unfolds like a series of cherished gifts:

"Ghost" by James Graham is a hauntingly beautiful exploration of memory and loss. In the quiet aftermath of a loved one's passing, the poet describes the emptiness of a house once filled with life and conversation. As time passes, memories of the departed begin to resurface vividly--their eyes, voice, and laughter lingering like a comforting ghost. Graham's poignant verses capture the enduring presence of those we have lost, transforming grief into a gentle daily companion that brings solace and quiet strength. This poem is a touching tribute to the enduring power of love and memory.