AMERICAN DREAM She's wearing her favorite sundress hair pulled back, bruises barely visible now. The kids are outside dodging summer, her eyes shine with memory. Only last night she was homecoming queen. Listening to Elvis Costello on the radio, she takes the tissue from her pocket. Time to make lunch. Funny how life goes crooked on you, when you least expect it. Alex Stolis, from Plymouth, MN., has been writing for almost twenty years.  His poems have appear in numerous regional publications, and also on the web. He is currently working on chapbook, taking care of kids, working and going back to school.  He can be reached at

The Pull to Fire Two people alone in a  room know full well what they do. I Conjure you up from composite fractions bits and bites and better times the you that was sacred to love until now I can not ever be the woman I first was  can not compete with that fantasy girl whose only requirement is to herself Yes once You were my only required course voraciously I read volumes of you  stored your words deeply and in a precious place   Chaos is like labor pains suspended somewhere inside an invisible chasm All I know is that it wasn't there before and now it lives here taken up residence like an unwanted guest like a hair on the soap You go to a place where I do not exist memories now that don’t contain me  you can  remember her whenever you want On a breeze  dream up her face My daily mirror of you Matte and one dimensional a tarnished spoon  I remember too well your smooth charming pull the sun drawing in a spinning planet the heat felt good even though I knew I would burn The words you spoke then with the charm and zen of ages of men before you Were bed words  not love I heard what I needed and fell into the jaws of you let myself be devoured by your gravity Su Young is from Southern Maine. She is a freelance writer currently writing a book about vintage purses. She is married, has 2 children, and one white dog with a big black nose.  E-mail her at