I’m awake and pretty much sober. Yet I do not wish to be sober. I want to swirlmy anger in my mouth, letting its tannins coat my tongue until my tongue doesn’t care what words it forms to hurl at old, pasty white men who place chains and shackles upon our bodiesto drag us backthrough […]

Awake and Pretty Much Sober – Annette Kalandros

History hurts.They told us back in the day:whatever you do,don’t study history.You’ll see livesmisshapen, possiblymurmured in vastderangements ofyour own.You’ll see peoplegnawed by life;dreams sewn shut.(But you’ll also see the strange chemical languageof constellations shattered over the Kewa rez.The ancient stain of night in its diamondsplash and to breathe& sleep here is to breathe& sleep in […]

Land of Enchantment – River Lucero

The Heretics, Lovers, and Madmen Literary Collective loves a good writing/creativity prompt challenge. Our goal is to provide prompts on a regular basis. We hope that our ‘Shadow in the Frame’ prompt stirs your muse and that you consider submitting your prompt response to Heretics, Lovers, and Madmen for publication. We welcome poetry, prose, flash fiction, creative […]

Writing/Creativity Prompt Challenge: We, the Unhinged

Ophelia weeps what she cannot keep and casts herself into the black night waters.Tis no sleep; her sanity, he reapedfrom the fair and vestal virgin daughter.Sodden, she sinks in dirge-filled ink, bleeding her bitter rue. She resurrects her madness in reed-blown grimness; like a Loon’s song beneath a winter’s moon.  Sonorous, it sings, lilting and looming, it bringsa sting upon Hamlet’s ramparts.In death, she speaks.By the sword, she sweepsthe […]

Good Mourning Ophelia – Trisha Leigh Shufelt