Author: laurenalwan

The Frog and Turtle Restaurant, 7:15 pm, by Kimberly Ann Priest “Honky-tonk,” I say, “It reminds me of home.” My husband reaps another fry from his plate as the spirit of the music stirs something in me, memories: square dances, VFW halls, the ‘old days’—or so now they seem—when my father walked our small Midwestern … Continue reading Americana Stories—Poetry

The Shrink, by Linda Boroff Her mother had come out to California from Tennessee, a new widow with six ragged kids, a cast iron skillet, and an abiding faith in “Jaysus” and hard work. They had found a cabin in the Santa Cruz redwoods, and the mother opened a dressmaking business. The children raised chickens … Continue reading Americana Stories—Fiction

Epigenetics and the Illustrious MRS. Degree, by Shannon Frost Greenstein  The bell choir broke into an austere rendition of Silent Night, and Heather tried to yawn inconspicuously. The Christmas Eve candlelight service had been lovely, Grandmother was beaming that her favorite granddaughter had attended with new husband in tow, and Heather suspected she herself would … Continue reading Americana Stories—Fiction

Ambient Americana, by Isaac Rubin You’ll find me in moth-ridden corners, dodging the depressed shuffle of trapped tourists — one footfall the echo of a million before it — skittering around like a mouse in the shtetl, huddled in snowy plains where it never rains, sheltered in Langley doorframes shattered by bombs, waiting for a … Continue reading Americana Stories—Poetry

Fixtures, by Taylor Franson-Thiel Listen here: taylor-franson-thiel_fixturesDownload Taylor Franson-Thiel is a Pushcart-nominated poet from Utah, now based in Fairfax, Virginia. She received her Master’s in creative writing from Utah State University and is pursuing an MFA at George Mason University. She enjoys lifting heavy weights and posting reviews to Goodreads like someone is actually reading … Continue reading Americana Stories—Poetry

The Mask of Dahlias, by Jose Hernandez Diaz Listen here: HernandezDiaz_Jose_June252024 A man in a "Baudelaire for President" shirt rode a crowded bus downtown to a convention center. He was going to debut his new book of prose poems: "The Mask of Dahlias." The new book was about various philosophical concepts, which cannot be broken … Continue reading Americana Stories—Poetry

Rescue Animals, by Jonathan Wittmaier Listen here: jonathan-wittmaier_rescue-animalsDownload Jonathan Wittmaier is a Korean American writer and adoptee. Born in Seoul—he was raised in southern New Jersey. His writing can be found or is forthcoming in WordCity, Literary Journal, Weave—a zine project by PNW Kundiman, and Water~Stone Review. He currently resides in Seattle, Washington.

Sing Your Hymn of the Open Road, by Renee Gilmore      The maroon convertible was all winged fenders and pintucking, a glossy angel dropped from the Corvette heavens of Bowling Green. Glass-pack pipes murmured and growled like Leonard Cohen in his later years. That car, that sound, even that color heralded your arrival at every stoplight, … Continue reading Americana Stories—Poetry

Flyover Country, by Michael Brockley An homage to New Harmony, Indiana You argue with yourself over the difference between a honey bee and a yellow jacket. The architecture of their hives and nests. It’s been years since you trespassed in the belfry of the church without a roof in the village where all the cafes … Continue reading Americana Stories—Poetry

Two Poems by Marcia L. Hurlow Making Phone Calls for Montgomery Ward          --Mt. Vernon, Ohio, 1972 “We have a lot of specials today,Mrs. ___.  Several bedsheet sets, allsizes one price; they never need to beironed,” and I note the page in catalogueshousewives must keep by the phone, as Isit alone in my cubical that summer. … Continue reading Americana Stories—Poetry