Note to the reader: Herman is not me; nobody here is anybody anywhere. Word count: 1,491

The following didn't happen just this way. Does anything? Ever? Word count: 303

worry not of love's ins and outs

353 words. Symbolism in all that goes bling!

Sonny Chillingworth, one of Hawai'i's prolific and renowned slack key artist, tells a story about the early love between his grandparents. Both families did not approve of their relationship, so his grandfather would court his beloved at night. Here he would put a needle into her metal screen that covered her window, tied to it was string that would be waxed. The other end of the string would be pulled along to where his grandfather would be, and the end of the string put into his guitar. As his grandfather would play, the music would vibrate through the string and against the metal window where Sonny's grandmother would follow the music – and the string – to her love. This slack key technique is known as needle and thread.

Their love story inspired me to write this poem about my own love of my life. Our relationship started with a flower, that inspired him to write a song…and the rest is history.

Year of the Snake Contest entry for June 2013. 500 words. For AL.

Each writer receives 10 Bamboo Bucks to use at the BR online bookstore : )

While I am alive, my inner astronaut cries.

"Tears like the shape of my own eyes fall from hers and the wind reaches up to lick them into oblivion. In that moment, I come to taste my own fault." This story came to me as I watched a young girl swim in the ocean with her long dress. It seemed so peaceful, yet it didn't fit, and so a story of loss and letting go began to stir and this was the result. 641 words.

"Warmth & pleasure pouring over as I arch my body to meet yours…" is this how your text messages start off?!? Well, between these two lovers it does. Read on and enjoy! – 150 word count.