SCARF KNOT

By Emmanuel Williams August 4, 2026 * A year in which the sun Sat behind the clouds When has the sun Been useful beyond this? * Say my lifetime was cloudy Overcast constantly Am I a blade of glass? Or a flower much in need? * What has the sun done for me? But given me sweat, doubt, And lethargy? * I renounce the the sun I admit there’s a reason Beyond its constant…

By Emmanuel Williams July 26, 2026 * From Chapter Two: “Roy drew himself a bath as the darkness of the heavens breached the marble balcony, the floor, the carpet, and swept over the couch, spreading into the bathroom where he sat soaking. Sadness sagging his eyelids and creasing up his forehead. Memories kept flooding his mind from the changes. He walked through the village of the hollow,…

By Emmanuel Williams July 17, 2026 This one I drew two nights ago after my first ever spliff of tobacco and Blockberry strain cannabis. It started out as a five point star drawn with a continuous line and then it morphed into the maiden, with the demon on the left being a complete unconscious scribble that resembles a dragon. When I saw it I noticed it was whispering in the maiden’s ear. And…

By Emmanuel Williams July 17, 2026 I drew this on my white board not too long ago. I can’t describe the mood I was in but I was completely sober, but probably a tad frustrated by the time I picked up the marker. I do know it took less than 20 minutes to complete as I let my mind run wild and my hand draw freely. I call it “Faces” because there are many faces to the piece. There are obvious…

By Emmanuel Williams July 12, 2026 * JEROD Jerod strolled slowly atop the wall that separated two lands. To his left, an entirely female village of witches called Witchland. To his right, his own land of all-male warlocks, called Worland. Closer at his right strode a young boy, whom he had taken under his wing and had shown exceptional talent at spellcasting and the movement of objects twice…

By Emmanuel Williams July 4, 2026 * Here we are, 250 years since we became an independent nation from the British empire. And you know what? We are still self-reliant. We are young, we are fun, we are bold, and we are brave, despite our nation’s age. We grew this way. Our children are growing up free and courageous. Our communities are supporting themselves like a sports bra. And our…

By Emmanuel Williams Once upon a time, in a cabin deep into the warm mountains, lived a woman just outside a quiet town. She wore a black dress tied at the waist, and buckled with gold. She wore black, gold buckled, leather shoes at her feet which were covered in white socks. She wore a white paper bonnet that blocked the sun from her eyes and left room for a bun or ponytail at the back of her…

“The Task” By Emmanuel Williams June 26, 2026 * There isn’t a task I wanted to endure least. Here I sit, a half a cup of whiskey left in my worn right hand, and ash growing softly between my other fingers.  The truck delivering the mail was already 30 feet gone from the white picket fence surrounding my perfect lawn with the path down the middle. It isn’t an attractive distance from here to…

Emmanuel Williams June 14, 2026 * I’m in an art class this semester, so this is some extracurricular sketching based on an image I found online. I couldn’t get Garfield out of my mind as I thought about the possibility of developing ideas for drawing comics and comic strips. This is what you get from an amateur such as myself. Right now I’m better at drawing things that already exist instead…

By Emmanuel Williams June 6, 2026 * And I find myself In the middle of the night Playing far better strings Than I ever used to * I find myself  On the porch Living the dream I’m afraid she’s not in it * But she isn’t leaving And I’m not bowing out Don’t get me wrong I’d love to… * But it’s not what I’m about * I have a queen What’s my problem? My headaches? And…

* By Emmanuel Williams May 25, 2026 * Dear fallen heroes of the United States Armed Forces, Thank you for the Liberty. * Thank you for soft green mornings For daydreams uninterrupted Thank you for American birdsong And the parade of fashion’s angels * I would thank you for peaceful classrooms But that’s up to us And should never have been up to you * I can thank you for your…

* By Emmanuel Williams May 24, 2026 * I don’t believe this. I come in to work and there’s already puke in six cabs. You know who has to clean this up? Me.  Every alien in the Surloch system uses these interplanetary roller coasters and they don’t know how mich this socks because none of them are from Earth. You know how long it’s been since I’ve seen a real human? Two decades.  This cat’s…

* By Emmanuel Williams May 21, 2026 * With arrows thick as pine branch They shot him from the sky Far from the gold in his vast crevasse Unjust and cruel they cried * Yes, they brought him down And chained him near a lady To keep her guarded by day And leave her guarded by night * And when the dragon dreamed he dreamed And resumed his glorious flight Through the legend of the…

By Emmanuel Williams May 18, 2026 * We sailed a fortnight Covered in rain * The men aboard my ship Kept relics under their beds In their arms Clutched to their chests * They had heard of the lady Standing in the sky Dressed in white linen Who kept them alive * The calm was her blessing A sign of her favor But storm or disaster Would force them to prayer * All through the…

By Emmanuel Williams May 10, 2026 * Oh genius What is wisdom Oh dude What is Omni- * All I know Is what character Nature Reveals * With character Comes flaw Comes habit And quirk * It comes from the mind Diseased or never Directs the body Toward fight or for pleasure * Oh genius What is need Oh dude What is obsession * What is psycho Or danger Laziness or…