Very happy to report that Heartwood Literary Magazine published my short story "Saamiya" in a recent issue. "Saamiya" focuses on a depressed Muslim American teenager and her thoughts on the brave but fatal fate of Piggy from William Golding's "Lord of the Flies." I'd be delighted if you checked out my story and posted your thoughts below!

http://www.heartwoodlitmag.com/saamiya

#religion #highschool #angst #lordoftheflies #mythopoesis

I sing you sweet songs

Everyday with my meows

I want to talk to you

But I don’t know how

I save you the last drop

Of milk in the bowl

Although it goes unnoticed

I still love your soul

I leave you lavish presents

Strewn around the house

All these things I do for you

You don't see that dead mouse?

I do my best when you pet me

To leave your hand unscarred

I just want to say I love you

Why do you make that so hard?

Don't be ruthless with my heart

and I won't be ruthless

with my

farts.

- Desmond White

I sat down

by the river Styx

the wrongs in my life

I'm desperate to fix.

As I wait

for Death to show

along the bank

a cat walks slow.

I watch as

he passes Death

while I can feel

my last breath.

I wonder why

Death paid no heed

to the wandering cat

He left freed.

Then I recall

before I'm done

The cat has nine lives

and I only one.

Home, is where my cat purrs,

with his warm frame curled against mine,

the line between sunset and dusk blurs,

his affection is genuine.

Outside, there’s a world to face,

everything begins to stack,

it’s so hard to leave this safe place,

a soft meow calls me back.