This is Brew Week By Renee Williams

For the life of me, I’m still not sure if blueberries or peaches should find their way into beer.

Craft brew options have my head spinning as I wander into the bars of Athens

with distributors from Heidelberg, Devil’s Kettle, Thirsty Dog, and Fat Heads all there.

An IPA was never my thing, but hand me a wicked wheat ale and I’ll be your BFF. 

I try to explain to my eighty-three-year-old mother the allure of this nonsense. 

How do you describe enjoying a flight of 8 different beers—

of various potencies and bouquets —with about ten of your closest friends 

all drinking from the same tiny shot glasses?

Yes, the tables at the J Bar are a little sticky, so best not to get too comfortable. 

But I have my 2026 Brew List on hand with an ink pen ready,

so I can mark down if I’ve tried the Elvis Juice from Brew Dog 

or the pilsner, Come At Me, Beau! from Little Fish Brewing. 

After a quick stop at Insomnia Cookies for some chocolate chip delectables to cleanse the palate,

we’re on to Tony’s because the night wouldn’t be complete

without indulging in the Femme Fatale Pink Boots, Double IPA at 8.2%

or the Oh, yOU, Oh Yeah, Imperial Stout because we’re all grads of Ohio University.

As the Court Street Shuffle comes to a close, and my tortured taste buds can tackle no more,

I find my way to the West End Ciderhouse to choke down …just a little more.

At that point, the Peach Melba and Raspberry Sauce ciders suddenly become tolerable

and for the next six months, Budweiser will remind me why it's the king of beers. 

Renee Williams is a retired English instructor, who has written for ONE Art, Alien Buddha Press and Pine Mountain Sand and Gravel. 

 

 

Labor Emotional By Skaja Evens

It's when you give in to take a breath

The onslaught of persuasion 

Disguising coercion 

A million reasons to say no

As defense for a singular syllable respected

A complete statement alone

It's when you smile and acquiesce 

Pushing the mask in place to lie

Squashing sovereignty for another's comfort

Attempts to avoid the awkward

All uncomfortably suffocating 

As though suffocation is ever the right fit

Skaja Evens is a Best of the Net-nominated writer living in SE Virginia. Her work has appeared in Medusa's Kitchen, The Rye Whiskey Review, Synchronized Chaos, Mad Swirl, Spillwords Press, Ink Pantry, and Blue Pepper, among others. Her first book, conscientia veritatis, from Whiskey City Press, is available on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/conscientia-veritatis-Skaja-Evens/dp/B0CZTRN7ZP

Blood In My Eyes by Susan Isla Tepper

Every spare bed 

in your house

animals sleep together

snug in harmony

 

But, you see

I need a bed

badly—

a place to rest

my bloated head

Full of gin 

and the blood in my eyes 

Unlike your animals

blanketed by love

literally— your love

The kind never 

experienced

while I was growing up

Susan Isla Tepper is a a twenty year writer and author of 13 published books of fiction and poetry. Her latest new release GIRL UPSIDE DOWN is a Novella published by Wilderness House Press. www.susantepper.com

WHERE DO YOU WANT TO EAT? BY Dan Flore III

she took me to some Mexican joint

upscale

people wearing clothing

I can’t afford

I was exhausted 

felt like I was crisped 

on the edge of the sun

sun burnt

burnt out

I just want to go somewhere where 

I can blend in

and nobody knows I’m there

even myself

I said

when the waitress came over

she had tattoos 

on her leg

that could wake up the town

I ordered three tacos 

I could eat one

I went out to smoke 

it was a good respite

it was night by now

and I was getting cooled off

when a group of drunks 

started yelling

and the panic started

there was no way I could go back in

that restaurant

I sat on the bench 

looking like a clown with a poor disposition 

can you finish your pina colda and get me the hell outta here

I texted her

she came out 

and saw me crying

you poor thing what happened? 

I said the night bit me 

I just wanna go home 

which is where she took me 

and in a hurry

Dan Flore III’s work has appeared in over a hundred different publications. His latest book that’s available is JUMBO POETRY (Crying Heart Press)

with a little pond By J.J. Campbell

i remember when

i was a child

i always wanted

a little piece of land

with a little pond

just enough solitude

so that utopia would

be possible

now, i’ll be lucky

if its a trailer with

an outhouse or a

composting toilet

the doctors say

i’m dying

i laugh

ask if they would

like a shot of jack

as well

if anything, life is

so fucking overrated

in these days of who

is the biggest asshole

after i finish my next

glass of scotch i’ll tell

a story about a wayward

soul and all the embers

from the burning bridges

J.J. Campbell (1976 - ?) is old enough to know better. He's been widely published over the years, most recently at Synchronized Chaos, The Beatnik Cowboy, Yellow Mama, Night Owl Narrative and Crossroads Magazine. His most recent book, to live your dreams, published by Whiskey City Press, is available at Amazon by going here: https://a.co/d/073NBSFO

Let's Drink By Kevin M. Hibshman

A toast to your health.

You are not healthy nor will you ever be.

Why wallow in spiraling depths of despair alone when we all know how

Misery loves company?

Wake up in the gloam.

My kitchen is cold and so is my memory.

The people I love are enemies.

I watch them disintegrate daily.

The clock has froze.

Let's add some sugar to a life that will never be sweet.

I've been far away and drowning.

How would you like to try to swim with me?

I am talking respite not escape.

No canned religion.

No hypocrisy.

Kevin M. Hibshman has had poems published in many journals and magazines world wide.In addition, he has edited his poetry zine, Fearless, since 1990 and is the author of sixteen chapbooks including Love Sex Death Dreams (Green Bean Press, 2000) and Incessant Shining (Alternating Current, 2011).

Cease To Destroy from Whiskey City Press.

His current book is Lost Within The Garden Of Heathens also from Whiskey City Press and currently available through Amazon.

https://a.co/d/aIBcNvy

Door To Door By Susan Isla Tepper

I bought my first Electrolux 

vac from an oldish man 

who went door to door.

He was pleasant 

and down to earth,

asked if he could put

his hat on a chair.

We didn't have sex 

though he spent a lot of time

explaining hoses 

and attachments 

while kneeling on my floor.

I sat nearby on the couch 

glad I didn't wear shorts that day.

Susan Isla Tepper is a twenty year writer in all genres. Her most recent book, a Novel titled Hair Of A Fallen Angel, came out in the fall from Spuyten Duyvil Books, NYC. Tepper has also written 7 stage plays. Her third play titled EVA & ADAMO will present at The Tank, NYC, early fall. www.susantepper.com