Peeking Cat 40 is now available in print! It features all the poems and prose published on the Peeking Cat Literary website from October 2020 to September 2021 – that’s 64 writers and 109 pages of wonderful writing! Our gorgeous front cover photo was taken by Beverly M. Collins, and there’s another peeking cutie inside, courtesy […]
Amy Nocton – Now I Am the Raven’s Sticks, the Nightingale’s Bidding
Now I Am the Raven’s Sticks, the Nightingale’s Bidding Once I was a lie, her deceit, dreamt insidea solemn oath. Once I was a fledgling, folded in threads and nestledin another’s hands. Once I was the undertow swept along the stones of the swift seasister to the selkie’s distant shores. Once I was a soft […]
Robert Halleck – Two Poems
Unable To Locate Brent Carlin came into the 7-11 to buy a quart of milk.He showed me the program from our 40th reunion.My name—unable to locate. I guess I missed the emails. Well, you found me. It didn’t start out that way. I did the right things:Married the girl, raised our son—now in Florida,I cut […]
Peggy Hammond – Three Poems
Hand-Me-Downs Heirloom seeds still bloom brightin the garden, fill supper bowls and bellies before bedtime.Treasures handed down from a white-haired grannyin a worn cotton dress, thin ankle socks limp againstthe tops of ragged shoes, who once quilted alongsidewant and despair, stitched tears of joy and sorrowand a few family secrets into each Log Cabin, Star,and […]
Yash Seyedbagheri – Two Flash Fiction Pieces
(Click to enlarge) Bio Yash Seyedbagheri is a graduate of Colorado State University’s MFA fiction program. His stories, “Soon,” “How To Be A Good Episcopalian,” and “Tales From A Communion Line,” have been nominated for Pushcarts. Yash’s work has been published in The Journal of Compressed Creative Arts, Write City Magazine, and Ariel Chart, among others.
Richard Rose – My Grandfather’s Allotment
My Grandfather’s Allotment My grandfather had an affinity with soil,he read it every bit as well as I might read a book.Heavy clay weighed upon his rust-hobbed boots along with loam beneath his graft-chipped fingernails,these features marked for me his manly signature.Flat cap, scuff-sleeved old tweed jacket, shirtopen at the neck, best forgotten old grey […]
Jeremy Platt – amateur narcissus
amateur narcissusradiatingthis puddle colours me in gentle raindrop wavesi’m beautifuli really am islands of sapphire sky and abandoned musicenter my mouth and ears like words and i can speak on reflectioni choose silence though oncewhen my head combusted with infantile starlit rhythmsi was a poet Bio Jeremy Platt is based in the Lake District. […]
Lisa Molina – Saved
Saved Pink pulsatingwomb cordjoinsmotheranddaughtertogether. At birth,extra cord cellscollected,frozen, Saved. Graciously givento anunknownboy’scancer-riddenbody. Eleven years later,boy is nowpulsating withfresh pinkpure blood. Saved. The boyandthe girlbound togetherby theshared cordand blood. For eternity.Anonymously. Bio Lisa Molina holds a BFA from the University of Texas. After teaching high school theatre and English, she served as Associate Publisher of […]
Zach Beach – Frost
Frost All a poet ever needsis a mountainand shallow streams. Inspiration can be found by simply touchingthe barren ground. The Earth speaks and the river sings. Look at what the bluebird brings. Twigs at a timewill build a home. We are built to sit and freely roam. Bio Zach Beach, MA is an internationally […]
Malkeet Kaur – Dreams
Dreams These chevroned waves start fromthe mind, ending only there, myriadshapes moving as shadow puppets. There now an island alluring, a meremirage of a choppy sea; chaperonedapparitions for vespertine hours; desires waltzing on the inner palisades.Love lingers in the air as lust leavesthrough the secret doors and rusty hinges. And one day phantasm fizzle out […]